The list below consists of mainly external events, relevant for EU4OceanObs and involving the participation of the EU action coordinators of the GEO Blue Planet Initiative and/or G7 Future of the Seas & Oceans Initiative.

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Under the theme Integrated Solutions #ForNature, the UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment (UN-SPBF) will convene its Third Global Session online from 18-20 February 2021, in the lead up to the Fifth Session of the UN Environment Assembly.

The Global Partnership on Marine Litter, will co-host a session on Managing Risk: Marine Litter and Microplastics Mitigation and Prevention. The head of the GEO Blue Planet EU Office – Audrey Hasson from Mercator Ocean International, will participate in this Session as a speaker.

This session will include the Phase I release of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter Digital Platform. The aim of the GPML Digital platform is to facilitate coordination of multi-stakeholder action towards the long-term elimination, through a life-cycle approach, of discharges of litter and microplastics into the oceans using AI capabilities, data mapping and layered functionalities including match-making.

The session will examine the following key questions:

  • What does the latest science tell us about the risks posed by marine litter and microplastics for ecosystems, human health and society ?
  • In order to manage and mitigate the risk of marine litter in our environment, what urgent policy action is required at the multi-lateral and national levels?
  • What part does innovation, technology and finance have to play? And what does multi-stakeholder cooperation offer in the management and mitigation of marine litter and microplastics related risk?