On July 3rd, IPEN Participating Organizations from around the world participated in "Plastic Bag-Free Day," highlighting the need to phase-out plastic bags and promote organic reusable bags. Plastic bags can take hundreds of years to degrade, releasing tiny particles of toxic chemicals into soil and water, polluting the environment and harming many living organisms, such as those in marine environments.
Dr. Mariann Lloyd-Smith, IPEN senior policy adviser, debated the dangers of fracking chemicals against lawyers from oil and gas giant Halliburton and representatives of the Europe and UK chemical industry at the Helsinki Chemical Forum earlier this year.
The session moderator, from the Organization of Economic and Cooperation Development (OECD), complimented Dr. Lloyd-Smith afterwards, saying, “you are the voice of reason.’”
The first United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was held at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, from 23-27 June 2014. More than 1,200 participants, including environment ministers, heads of international organizations, government representatives, civil society representatives and business leaders, attended the Assembly.
