The course aims to provide an overview of the role and tasks of the main national and international institutions in the field of the environment, with particular reference to the Mediterranean Action Plan of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP/MAP). In particular, it will cover the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention), its governance mechanisms and decision-making processes, as well as the role of the Convention's Regional Centres, in particular the Information and Communication Centre (INFO/RAC) managed by ISPRA.