UNEP Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML)
Enriched UN / Multilateral · Found: 2026-03-11 12:55
Multi-stakeholder partnership with 710+ member organizations dedicated to preventing marine litter and plastic pollution. Funded by member states, private sector, GEF, and Green Climate Fund.
Funding Details
- Funder
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- Funding Goal
- Prevent marine litter and plastic pollution globally through multi-stakeholder coordination, knowledge sharing, and advancing circular economy solutions across all sectors.
- Funding Amount
- No direct funding disbursed. Free membership-based partnership platform.
- How to Apply
- Join via the Global Plastics Hub at https://globalplasticshub.org/partnership. Rolling membership, no competitive selection process described.
- Target Region
- Global
- Contact
- UNEP Contact: https://www.unep.org/who-we-are/contact-us
- Last Checked
- 2026-03-11 15:53
Application Checklist
Eligibility
Project Scope
Required Documents
Constraints
Summary
The Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter (GPML) is a multi-stakeholder partnership launched at Rio+20 in June 2012, led by a Steering Committee with UNEP providing secretariat services. With over 710 member organizations, it serves as a global coordination platform bringing together governments, private sector, civil society, NGOs, and regional bodies to address marine litter and plastic pollution from both land- and sea-based sources. The GPML does not function as a traditional grant program — it is a membership-based platform that offers access to a global network, shared knowledge resources, opportunities to showcase members' work, and quarterly newsletter updates. Specific objectives include reducing plastic leakage into the ocean through improved design, applying the 3Rs principle (reduce, reuse, recycle), encouraging closed-loop and circular production systems, and maximizing resource efficiency. Any entity working to address marine litter and microplastics is eligible to join. There is no competitive application process or direct funding disbursed; rather, the value lies in coordination opportunities, visibility, and access to the broader UNEP ecosystem including connections to GEF and Green Climate Fund programming. For organizations working on plastic waste and circular economy, GPML membership can be a strategic networking asset — particularly for accessing global platforms, aligning with international frameworks, and connecting with potential co-funders or partners. However, it should not be regarded as a direct source of project grants.
Historical Context
Launched at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in June 2012, in response to the Manila Declaration on the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities. As of 2025, the partnership has grown to 710+ member organizations.
Why it was added
Core UN partnership on marine litter and plastic pollution, directly relevant to OPF plastic circular economy theme
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