The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.
UNEP work encompasses:
- Assessing global, regional and national environmental conditions and trends
- Developing international and national environmental instruments
- Strengthening institutions for the wise management of the environment
Mission:
"To provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations."
See more at: http://unep.org/
The Global Programme of Action (GPA)
The Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) is the only global intergovernmental mechanism directly addressing the connectivity between terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems.
See more at: http://www.gpa.unep.org
The Global Partnership on Marine Litter
The Global Partnership on Marine Litter, besides being supportive of the Global Partnership on Waste Management, seeks to protect human health and the global environment by the reduction and management of marine litter as its main goal, through several specific objectives.
The GPML is a voluntary multi-stakeholder coordination mechanism in which all partners agree to work together to further reduce and better manage marine litter. The GPML is a global partnership gathering international agencies, Governments, NGOs, academia, private sector, civil society and individuals. Participants contribute to the development and implementation of GPML activities. Contributions may be in the form of financial support, in-kind contributions and/or technical expertise.
See more at: http://www.unep.org/gpa/gpml/gpml.asp
The Open University of the Netherlands
The Open University (OU) is one of the fourteen universities in The Netherlands. Students of the OU study online and they combine their study with other activities, usually a job. Characteristics of the education are openness, flexibility and quality. Students can follow bachelor and master degree programmes in seven fields of study. More than 15.000 students are studying at the OU and the OU has 550 employees. For five years in a row the OU has the highest score of all Dutch universities in the National Student Survey: students of the OU are most satisfied about their study compared to students of the other thirteen universities. The OU and the programmes are also highly valued in the Dutch university guides ’Keuzegidsen’: best university 2015 with 4 top bachelor and 2 top master programmes 2015. Nationally and internationally the OU plays a key role in the innovation of higher education. Education and research are closely interrelated which guarantees that the current state of science is applied. The OU not only invests in research in the various academic disciplines, but also in research in learning sciences and learning technologies which contributes to the innovation of higher education.
See more at: https://www.ou.nl/web/english/home.