Bette Midler, Lupita Nyong’o join other actors, activists and athletes asking world leaders to cut plastic production

New York, USA – Ahead of the United Nations General Assembly opening in New York, Tony and Grammy winner Bette Midler and Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o joined forces with other actors, athletes and activists to call on world leaders to support an ambitious Global Plastics Treaty, committing to drastically reduce plastic production and end single-use plastic.

The actors, athletes and activists, from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania, signed an open letter calling on global leaders to champion a strong plastics agreement and “to agree to end single-use plastics.” They join the 80% of people who – according to a poll commissioned by Greenpeace International – support cuts to plastic production.

“As concerned citizens, we support efforts at big events to reduce single-use plastics, clean up our beaches, and separate our plastic waste at home. However, none of this is enough—it hasn’t been enough for a long time. We live in a broken system dominated by throwaway plastic, and no solution or policy will be sufficient unless we reduce the amount of plastic produced and used,” said the letter.

The final UN negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty will take place in Busan, South Korea from November 25 to December 1, 2024, and are expected to produce a legally binding agreement that will curb the global plastics crisis.

Greenpeace is demanding that the Global Plastics Treaty cut total plastic production by at least 75% by 2040 to protect biodiversity and ensure that global temperatures stay below 1.5° C. Over 99% of plastic is made from fossil fuels, and with production set to skyrocket, it is a significant driver of climate change. 

“I won a swimming marathon inspired by my late dog. Would politicians win the race to Busan inspired by the only planet we have?” Sharon van Rouwendaal, 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist said.

Graham Forbes, Greenpeace USA’s Global Plastics Campaign Lead and Head of Delegation of the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, said: 

“Governments must not waste time listening to the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries who trade our future for profit. World leaders need to listen to the people and deliver a Global Plastics Treaty that will cut plastic production and end single use plastic because our health and our climate depend on it.” 

PETITION: Demand a Global Plastics Treaty

Call on the NZ Government to stand firm and support a strong global plastics treaty.

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The open letter

To our world leaders,

We are deeply concerned about the global plastic pollution crisis and how it affects all of us—our health, planet, climate, and future. We are all aware of the destruction, pollution, and social injustices it has on our communities and the climate.

In 2022, you decided that we need to end this crisis by creating a Global Plastics Treaty. As we approach the finish line of its negotiations in Busan, South Korea this November, we need you to be a champion of the people and our planet.

As concerned citizens, we support efforts at big events to reduce single-use plastics, clean up our beaches, and separate our plastic waste at home. However, none of this is enough—it hasn’t been enough for a long time. We live in a broken system dominated by throwaway plastic, and no solution or policy will be sufficient unless we reduce the amount of plastic produced and used. 

Microplastics have been found in the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, and even in our organs and our blood. It is found in the highest mountain peaks and the deepest of oceans. We cannot hand over a world wrapped in plastic to the next generation. 

This is really not a game – the future of our people and our planet rely on the courage of our world leaders to agree to end single-use plastics this November in Busan, South Korea.

You have the power to create a significant impact on our collective fate by ending the plastic pollution crisis. The Global Plastics Treaty is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver a safer, cleaner planet – and you can make this happen.