Background
He was born in Thessaloniki, Greece.
He was born in Thessaloniki, Greece.
He studied planning and regional development at the University of Thessaly in Greece (1996–2001) and continued on with postgraduate studies in International Development (Master of Public Administration/Idaho) at the Kennedy School of Harvard University (2001–2003).
From 2005 to 2009, he worked for the Greek non-governmental organization ELLINIKI ETAIREIA-Hellenic Society for the Protection of the Environment and the Cultural Heritage, where he was responsible for setting up the "Sustainable Aegean Programme", a public awareness campaign for the sustainable development of the Aegean Islands. In May 2013 he resigned from Panellinion Socialistikon Kinema (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) expressing his strong opposition to water privatisation in his hometown Thessaloniki. He is active in issues related to biodiversity and the fight against climate change.
He was also instrumental in the recent European Union regulation on illegal timber.
Likewise, he has been in the front line in the battle to save the bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in the Mediterranean.
He was recruited to the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (Panellinion Socialistikon Kinema (Panhellenic Socialist Movement)), by George A. Papandreou, the ex prime minister of Greece, after receiving the European Grand Prize for the “Sustainable Aegean” campaign.
From January 2008 to May 2009 he served as a member of the Greek National Planning Council where he represent 10 Greek environmental Non-governmental organizations. In June 2009, Kriton Arsenis became a Member of the European Parliament in the South&Doctorate. He is a Member of the European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and the Committee on Fisheries. He is also a substitute Member of the Committee on Development.
He has been an active member of the environmental movement in Greece and abroad since the age of 15.