Europe Community of Practice

The GOAP Europe Community of Practice for Ocean Accounting (ECoP) is a regional collaboration platform bringing together governments, international organisations and research institutions to promote collaboration, knowledge sharing, and capacity development in the field of ocean accounting within the European region.  

The ECoP is currently co-chaired by Kristine Grimsrud from Statistics Norway and Rob van der Veeren from Netherland’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. For information on how to join, please email info@oceanaccounts.org .

Objectives 

• Knowledge Sharing: the ECoP will act as a communication channel  providing an open platform for the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and best practices related to ocean accounting. 
• Capacity and Knowledge Development: Promote capacity and knowledge development in ocean accounting through training, workshops, and the dissemination of educational resources. 
• Policy Support: Contribute to improving evidence-based policy development by providing and illuminating the latest information and research on the state of marine and coastal ecosystems, their economic value, and sustainability. 
• Collaboration and coordination: Foster collaboration among ECoP members to work on joint research, projects, and initiatives related to ocean accounting and to act as a coordinating body for this work and learning lessons from work supported by European organisations outside the region (e.g. Africa, Asia).  
• Awareness and Advocacy: Raise awareness of the importance of ocean accounting for sustainable ocean management and advocate for its inclusion in policy and decision-making processes. 
• International learning: In addition, being supported by the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership, this ECoP has the unique opportunity to also learn from the experiences in other regions of the world. 

Activities

16 April 2024 | First Meeting of the European Community of Practice (CoP) for Ocean Accounting | Online

For the first meeting of the ECoP, 54 ocean practitioners, decision-makers and leaders from 16 countries and 32 organisations across Europe joined to share updates and knowledge on ocean accounting in the region and discuss proposed functions of the Europe CoP, who will meet again in September 2024. Read the report here.

12 December 2024 | Second Meeting of the European Community of Practice (CoP) for Ocean Accounting | Online

More details coming soon. Interested in joining? Contact info@oceanaccounts.org

Ways of working

The ECoP will undertake a variety of activities to achieve its objectives, including: 

1. Regular Meetings: Organise regular meetings, both virtual and in-person, to discuss progress, share knowledge, and foster collaboration. At a minimum twice per year or more frequently as needed. 
2. Webinars and Workshops: Conduct webinars, workshops, and training sessions on topics related to ocean accounting. 
3. Research and Data Sharing: Promote research and data sharing among member organisations and facilitate the development of common datasets and standards. 
4. Policy Briefs: Develop and disseminate policy briefs and reports to inform decision-makers on the value of sustainable ocean management. 
5. Communication: The Secretariat will maintain a section on the GOAP website and communication channels to disseminate information, share resources, and raise awareness about ocean accounting. 

Resources 

Europe CoP Terms of Reference

GOAP Members in Europe 

The Europe community of practice was attended by 32 organisations, five of which are officially Members of GOAP. These are: 

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Any organisation or individual can join the Europe Community of Practice without the need to be, or obligation to become, a GOAP Member. The ECoP welcomes any and all interested individuals and organisations.

If you are interested in attending the Europe Community of Practice or becoming a Member of GOAP, please email the GOAP Secretariat at info@oceanaccounts.org