Knowledge, finance and monitoring
in one cycle of action
Mission
To make marine litter prevention and reduction efforts more visible, measurable, transferable and scalable, and to connect them with climate action.
Vision
Not merely a knowledge archive, but a dynamic international platform for cooperation where countries, institutions and communities learn from each other and act together.
What is MLAP?
The Marine Litter Action Platform is an integrated digital collaboration environment for marine litter prevention and reduction. It supports knowledge exchange, project development, monitoring, financing and decision-making through a modular and scalable architecture.
It brings governments, local authorities, civil society, research institutions, business, financial institutions and development partners into one framework for cooperation and climate action. Its design is informed by seven established platforms — the GPML Digital Platform (UNEP), CC/RAC under UNEP/MAP, EMODnet, NOWPAP RAP MALI, the COBSEA Regional Node, the UNFCCC Global Climate Action Portal (GCAP/NAZCA) and the Mikroplastik Haritası in Türkiye — and complements existing efforts rather than duplicating them.
Marine litter action is framed here as climate action. Plastics generate greenhouse gas emissions across their life cycle, while litter weakens the seagrass meadows, coastal wetlands and other blue carbon ecosystems that store carbon and protect coastlines. Preventing marine litter and restoring these ecosystems therefore belong to both climate mitigation and adaptation, in line with the Paris Agreement's 1.5 °C goal.
Six modules
The platform is built as a modular architecture. Each module can develop at its own pace while feeding the same cycle of action.
Knowledge and Good Practices Hub
Verified good practices, technical methodologies, policy instruments and field experience in one structured hub. Each entry records objectives, implementation requirements, indicative costs, environmental outcomes, climate relevance and conditions for replication.
Commitment Registry
Governments, local authorities, businesses, tourism operators, fisheries and maritime stakeholders and civil society register voluntary commitments. Commitments are linked to monitoring indicators, enabling transparent progress reporting and periodic evaluation.
Financing and Climate Action Interface
Projects needing technical or financial support are connected with public resources, international climate funds, biodiversity and blue carbon finance, private-sector partnerships and development finance institutions.
Inventory and Monitoring Dashboard
An international inventory of policy instruments, technological solutions, field interventions, clean-up initiatives and restoration projects, visualised on a map by country, region, stakeholder group and intervention type.
Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer
Guidance documents, training modules, technical assistance and peer learning, with particular attention to developing countries, countries with limited institutional capacity and Small Island Developing States.
Digital Platform and Data Management
A secure web portal integrating user management, document repositories, geospatial information, project databases and monitoring dashboards, designed for interoperability with other national and international systems.
How the platform
can be used
Knowledge, capacity, finance and monitoring come together in one cycle. Results return to the Knowledge Hub and start it again.
- 01
A practice or commitment is submitted
A local solution, good practice, Zero Waste or Zero Waste Blue application or project need is entered in a structured format.
- 02
A tiered assessment is carried out
The capacity level is set as entry, standard or advanced, together with support needs, implementation readiness and expected climate resilience benefits.
- 03
Capacity building and technical support are provided
Guidance, training, technical advice and links to relevant experts or organisations are provided.
- 04
Access to financing is facilitated
The project is connected with suitable financing and technical support sources and helped to progress towards a more comprehensive application.
- 05
Implementation progress is monitored
Progress, outputs and, where appropriate, environmental results are tracked periodically through the dashboard.
- 06
Results are shared and recognised
Lessons learned and verified outcomes return to the Knowledge Hub, are promoted for replication across countries and regions, and may be recognised through the Blue Impact Certificate.
Three capacity tiers
A tiered model lets initiatives take part at their own capacity and move towards more advanced levels through training, technical support and reassessment.
Entry level
Basic observation, simple records and accessible participation.
Standard level
Repeated monitoring, shared data fields and quality control.
Advanced level
Detailed analysis, scientific cooperation and advanced impact tracking.
Blue Impact Certificate
A digital recognition tool that increases the visibility of actors contributing verified good practices, commitments or knowledge through the platform, and encourages the wider dissemination of successful work.
At the initial stage it functions as a visibility and incentive mechanism recognising verified contributions and participation, not as an independent environmental performance certification scheme. Its scope, eligibility criteria, verification method and conditions of use will be clarified during the platform's development.
Who is it for?
National governments
Environment, climate and waste management authorities
Local and coastal authorities
Municipalities and regional administrations implementing on the ground
Civil society
NGOs, community organisations and foundations
Private sector
Plastics value chain, fisheries, shipping, tourism and retail
Research institutions
Universities, research centres and scientific networks
Financial institutions
Development banks, climate funds, investors and development partners
International organisations
UN agencies such as UNEP, FAO, IMO and UNDP, and international networks
How can you take part?
As an organisation
Document a practice in the standard format; it is published after review. The commitment registry, where voluntary commitments are linked to monitoring indicators, opens with the platform.
As a funder
Share a funding opportunity, grant call or technical assistance offer, and browse projects that are looking for finance.
As a visitor
Read published practices, calls and guidance documents and see where action is taking place. No registration is needed.
From submission to publication in four steps
- 01
Submission
A registered organisation submits a practice, a commitment or a funding call through the standard form.
- 02
Review
The technical secretariat checks scope, accuracy and completeness, and requests revisions where needed.
- 03
Classification
Intervention type, region and capacity tier are assigned, and eligibility for publication is decided.
- 04
Publication
The entry is published on the platform and the dashboard, and appears in the organisation's profile.
Submissions returned for revision are updated from the organisation profile and resubmitted. Published contributions may be recognised through the Blue Impact Certificate.
International participation
Marine litter crosses borders through currents, rivers, winds, trade and maritime activities. Strong measures in one location cannot protect a shared sea basin on their own, so responsibility is shared.
Participation by international organisations, national and local authorities, civil society, research institutions, business and financial institutions lets the platform reflect diverse geographic and institutional conditions. It supports a more equitable sharing of knowledge and resources and the replication of practices across borders.
Governance framework
A multi-stakeholder governance framework supports transparency, scientific integrity, institutional cooperation and shared responsibility.
Steering Committee
Sets strategic direction, approves annual priorities and work plans, and supports the long-term development of the initiative.
Technical Secretariat
Runs day-to-day operations: coordination, user support, data management, content administration, reporting and infrastructure maintenance.
Scientific and Technical Advisory Board
International experts give scientific guidance, review methodologies, support indicator development and promote alignment with international best practice.
Stakeholder Network
An open network of governments, local authorities, research institutions, civil society, business, financial institutions and international organisations.
Thematic Working Groups
Groups on priority topics such as monitoring, ghost gear, blue carbon, restoration, financing and education provide technical recommendations.
Implementation roadmap
The platform is developed in phases. Each phase builds on the previous one, with continuous improvement based on user feedback and operational experience.
- 01
Phase 1 · Planning and design
Concept note finalised, international platform models assessed, governance arrangements defined, technical architecture designed and the financing strategy developed.
- 02
Phase 2 · Development and pilot implementation
Core modules built, knowledge hub, commitment registry and monitoring dashboard established, user testing and pilot implementation, first stakeholder engagement.
- 03
Phase 3 · National implementation
National launch, wider stakeholder participation, training programmes and technical support, collection of monitoring data and reporting.
- 04
Phase 4 · International expansion and sustainability
Integration with international initiatives and regional networks, new partnerships, expanded financing opportunities and long-term sustainability.
The roadmap stays flexible and is reviewed periodically to reflect stakeholder feedback, technological developments and emerging international priorities.
Short user guide
- As a visitor, browse published practices, calls and resources with search, filters and the map. No registration is needed.
- To register an organisation, the authorised contact's details and the organisation type are enough.
- A submission is completed in steps: organisation, practice, results. Drafts can be saved and finished later.
- Financing partners publish calls through the same flow; each call page links to the submission form.
Who is behind it
The Marine Litter Action Platform is proposed jointly by TÜRÇEV and TURMEPA, building on Türkiye's experience in marine environmental protection, Zero Waste and Zero Waste Blue implementation, coastal ecosystem restoration and marine education.
It is presented under the COP31 Action Agenda as an initiative that links marine litter action to climate mitigation and adaptation, and that complements existing international efforts rather than duplicating them.
- Lead entity
- Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change — Directorate General of Environmental Management, Marine and Coastal Management Department
- Coordination
- Climate Change Directorate
- Concept note
- Proposed jointly by TÜRÇEV and TURMEPA
- Framework
- Presented under Türkiye's COP31 Action Agenda
Under development. Target milestone: a functional prototype and pilot testing by COP31, Antalya, 9–20 November 2026.
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