UNEP United Nations Environment Programme [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.unep.org/newscentre/?doctypeID=1
Selected Press Releases

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Biodegradable Plastics Are Not the Answer to Reducing Marine Litter, Says UN
Washington D.C., 17 November 2015 – Widespread adoption of products labelled ‘biodegradable’ will not significantly decrease the volume of plastic entering the ocean or the physical and chemical risks that plastics pose to marine environment, concluded a UN report released today.

The report, “Biodegradable Plastics and Marine Litter. Misconceptions, Concerns and Impacts on Marine Environments“, finds that complete biodegradation of plastics occurs in conditions that are rarely, if ever, met in marine environments, with some polymers requiring industrial composters and prolonged temperatures of above 50°C to disintegrate. evidence suggesting that labelling products as ‘biodegradable’ increases the public’s inclination to litter…

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Countries Commit to Tackling Multiple Threats to Migratory Waterbirds
New Action Plans for Seabirds, Eurasian Curlew, Grey Crowned Crane, Long-tailed Duck, Northern Bald Ibis, Shoebill and Taiga Bean Goose Adopted
16/11/2015 00:00:00