UNDP United Nations Development Programme [to 9 May 2015]
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter.html

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03 May 2015
UNDP assists 84 developing countries safely manage Persistent Organic Pollutants to protect human health, livelihoods and environment
Geneva – At the 7th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP-7) in Geneva this week, UNDP will be reporting its contribution to the global effort to reduce the risks of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). As of May 2015, UNDP is supporting 84 countries implement POPs-related projects, amounting to US $156 million in Global Environment Facility (GEF) grants and US $392 million in co-financing. Consequently, 9,500 tonnes of POPs have been safely disposed and 335,000 tonnes of contaminated wastes have been safeguarded.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are chemicals that negatively affect health and environment through air, water and soil, causing nervous system damage, immune system breakdown, reproductive system disorder and cancer. To help reduce the vulnerability, especially of the poor, to health and environmental hazards, UNDP helps countries meet the objectives of the Stockholm Convention with financial support from GEF and other co-financing partners. To ensure sustainability 300,000 people have been trained globally on POPs management and 65 national regulations on safe management of POPS have been adopted with UNDP support. These efforts have helped 220,000 people reduce their high-risk exposure to POPs….