News

H2020 training addresses marine litter challenge in the Mediterranean

12-06-2012

Fifty three representatives of ministries, institutions and NGOs from Mediterranean countries, interested in developing and implementing integrated management of marine litter deriving mainly from urban solid waste, took part in a training held in Sweden last month within the framework of ENPI Horizon 2020 Capacity Building/Mediterranean Environment Programme.
 
The three-day training sought to enhance participants’ understanding of the complex and multidimensional issue of marine litter and to develop their skills to take appropriate decisions in addressing problems. The course introduced participants to the impacts and implications of marine litter: environmental, economic, social, cultural, health and safety. It provided information on global, EU, Mediterranean and other policies/ initiatives/ projects and outlined the main challenges related to science, policy and knowledge gaps.
 
Special emphasis was given to the issue of integrated solid waste based marine litter management, since marine litter is not a stand-alone issue and is to a very large extent part of the overall issue of onshore solid waste management.
 
Participants also informed each other about the status of marine litter in their countries and necessary information was exchanged on replicable lessons at the national and local level.
 
The training included a site visit to demonstrate marine litter monitoring methodologies along the Swedish coast.
 
The Horizon 2020 Capacity Building/Mediterranean Environment Programme (H2020 CB/MEP) aims to support the implementation of the Horizon 2020 Initiative Road Map and Work Plan through capacity building and awareness raising activities, and to promote integration/mainstreaming of environment issues into other sector policies.
 
The Horizon 2020 initiative aims to improve the quality of life of more than 420 million citizens living in the 25 countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It is an umbrella programme drawing together all the policies, strategies and action plans for enhancing environmental protection. (EU Neighbourhood Info Centre)
 
Read more
 
Press release
 
Horizon 2020 CB/MEP webpage
 
Horizon 2020 - website
 
EU Neighbourhood Info Centre webpage – environment
 
ENPI Info Centre interview on H2020 – Battling to beat pollution in the Mediterranean Sea
 
 


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