A policy paper prepared under the Environmental and Ocean Literacy in the Black Sea Basin Project has been released to the public. The document underlines that the Black Sea region is facing mounting environmental pressures driven by land-based pollution, inadequate waste management, weak enforcement of environmental legislation, and limited public awareness of the interdependence of ecosystems. It notes that these challenges are further exacerbated by fragmented governance, insufficient cross-border coordination, and a widening gap between scientific knowledge and decision-making processes. Without systematic intervention, the paper warns, environmental degradation will threaten biodiversity, economic stability, and the long-term wellbeing of coastal and inland communities.
Literacy framed as a governance tool, not only an education goal
As a structural response to these challenges, the policy paper proposes a regional policy framework to strengthen environmental and ocean literacy. It positions literacy not merely as an educational objective, but as a governance instrument that supports informed decision-making, adaptive capacity, and civic participation. The approach aims to connect education systems, public authorities, civil society, and youth engagement within a coherent strategy aligned with the European Union’s environmental priorities and global sustainability commitments.
A three-pillar action framework
The paper sets out three interconnected pillars of action:
1) Institutional integration of environmental and ocean literacy
Environmental literacy should be embedded across formal and non-formal education, teacher training programmes, and lifelong learning initiatives. The paper calls for standardised regional frameworks and shared educational resources to ensure continuity and quality of knowledge across Black Sea countries.
2) Strengthening governance through informed decision-making
Policy effectiveness, the document argues, depends on accessible data, sustained science–policy dialogue, and institutional capacity to translate environmental knowledge into regulation and implementation. Open data platforms, improved inter-institutional coordination, and evidence-based policy processes are presented as essential. Regional and cross-border cooperation should further reinforce NGO capacity, youth participation, and institutional partnerships. Key priorities include expanding funding and capacity development for local NGOs, establishing sustainable regional NGO networks, and promoting government–academia–NGO collaboration.
3) Institutionalised youth and community participation
Young people and local communities should be recognised as active stakeholders in environmental governance. Structured mechanisms for youth engagement, community-based monitoring, and NGO participation can strengthen accountability, public trust, and policy implementation. The paper recommends formalising youth participation through instruments such as Youth Sea Councils, consultative roles in policymaking, expanded incentives, and youth-led civic education programmes.
“Regional cooperation is indispensable”
Given the Black Sea’s semi-enclosed character and unique ecological features, the policy paper stresses that regional cooperation is indispensable. A coordinated, literacy-driven framework, it argues, can support pollution prevention beyond national borders, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable resource management. By integrating education, governance, and civic participation, the proposed framework is presented as a scalable model that can convert environmental awareness into systemic resilience—contributing to healthier ecosystems, stronger institutions, and more sustainable regional development.
