Marine Litter

UN Environment in cooperation with the Open University of the Netherlands, will soon launch a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Marine Litter. The MOOC has been created in order to stimulate leadership and offers opportunities for actionable and change oriented learning related to marine litter within the framework of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter.

The MOOC will enhance capacity of students through action oriented learning on how they can apply successful and inspiring activities to combat marine pollution. It will be offered through a series of lectures, case studies and videos, along with additional study materials.

The MOOC is will be available in two tracks:

• Leadership Track: 8 hours of learning introducing the student to the basic characteristics and concepts of the marine litter issue and various strategies to prevent and reduce marine litter; and
• Expert Track: 32 additional hours and a final assignment for professionals and students who want to acquire more in-depth knowledge, insights and skills relating to prevention of marine litter.

Providers: UN Environment, Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML), Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA); and Open University.

Course Commencement date: 26 October 2015.

Topics:

• The environmental impact and societal relevance of marine litter problems;
• Technical solutions, including alternatives and recycling;
• The governance of marine litter;
• Sources, processes, modelling and monitoring of marine litter;
• Designing and selecting effective strategies for marine litter;
• Awareness raising, education and outreach, and capacity building;
• Implementation of policies, laws, and market-based instruments;
• Skills to develop an action plan to reduce marine litter pollution.