Europe CoP

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 Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. For information on how to join, please email info@oceanaccounts.org.

Objectives

• Knowledge Sharing: The ECoP acts 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 the latest information and research on 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
• 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: Learn from experiences in other regions of the world through the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership

Regional Focus Areas

• Integration with EU Blue Economy policies
• OSPAR regional seas ecosystem accounting
• Mediterranean ecosystem services valuation
• Marine spatial planning support
• Alignment with European environmental-economic accounts

Ocean Accounting Projects

• Ocean Accounting towards the Sustainable Development of Oslofjord, Norway

Activities

16 April 2024 | First Meeting of the European Community of Practice | 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. Read the report.

12 December 2024 | Second Meeting of the European Community of Practice | Online

Contact info@oceanaccounts.org for more details about upcoming meetings.

Ways of Working

The ECoP undertakes a variety of activities to achieve its objectives:

1. Regular Meetings: Organise regular meetings, both virtual and in-person, at a minimum twice per year
2. Webinars and Workshops: Conduct webinars, workshops, and training sessions on ocean accounting topics
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
5. Communication: Maintain communication channels to disseminate information, share resources, and raise awareness

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:

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.

Contact

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