WG4 Policy Review Workshop

WG4 Policy Review Workshop

Description

An insightful two-day workshop on the legal, regulatory, and environmental dimensions of offshore freshened groundwater (OFG) is scheduled to take place in Oslo on May 6 and 7, 2025. Organized as part of Task 4 of Working Group 4, the event will gather experts and stakeholders to discuss key challenges and opportunities related to OFG governance, such as:

  • Understanding OFG: Exploring its utilization, differences from onshore groundwater, and potential uses.
  • Legal Frameworks: Addressing international laws, including the Geneva Conventions and UNCLOS, and how they apply to the utilization of OFG.
  • Environmental and Social Considerations: Reviewing the impacts of resource development, environmental assessments, and the role of social licensing.

Key sessions will also cover transboundary exploitation, lessons from offshore hydrocarbons law, and actionable recommendations for sustainable resource management.

This event represents a significant step in advancing discussions around the governance of offshore natural resources.

Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to the global conversation on sustainable offshore resource management!

Please note that travel and accommodation costs will be reimbursed by COST only for one MC member by country, according to the standard COST Action Rules.

Agenda

Day 1, 6 May 2025

Introduction: Margarita Nieves, PhD (c), University of Groningen as convenor

Session 1

What is offshore freshened groundwater (OFG)? – Elizabeth Quiroga Jordan, team leader Ruden

Technical differences between offshore and onshore freshened groundwater. – Ariel T. Thomas, PhD, postdoctoral researcher University of Malta

Session 2

International Law of the Sea: How does it apply to OFG? (Background (Geneva Conventions), United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS))Angeles Jiménez Garcia-Carriazo, PhD, research fellow University of Cadiz

Session 3

Regulatory and environmental obligations of coastal states within UNCLOS to exploit natural resources. How does it apply to OFG? (Regulation, monitoring and enforcement obligations)Margarita Nieves, PhD (c), University of Groningen

Session 4

Water Framework Directive – Isha Savani, PhD, research scientist, RUDEN.

Session 5

Environmental Impacts, Assessments and the Law – Ayla Bilgin, PhD, professor Artvin University, and Hamid Abdalla, PhD researcher, Coventry University

Day 2, 7 May 2025

Introduction: Renée Martin-Nagle PhD, President and CEO of A Ripple Effect as convenor

Session 6

International Principles on Water Law, and Norwegian and European Union Ground Water Law – Renée Martin-Nagle, PhD, President and CEO A Ripple Effect, and Gunnhild Storbekkrønning Solli, PhD, professor Norwegian University of Life Sciences

Session 7

Transboundary exploitation of shared resources – Ángeles Jiménez García- Carriazo, PhD, and Renée Martin-Nagle, PhD

Session 8

Social License – Paulina Ramirez, PhD, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) (online)

Session 9

Lessons from Offshore Hydrocarbons Law – Eduardo Pereira PhD, adjunct professor, University of Eastern Finland

Videos of the sessions