In response, Greenpeace USA’s Ocean Director John Hocevar said:
“It is encouraging to see such strong momentum for a binding global treaty to address the full life cycle of plastic pollution. We need to see real ambition and urgency at the beginning of the process or we will struggle to achieve a treaty that matches the scope of the problem. This Ministerial was a good indication that things are moving in the right direction.
“It is particularly disappointing to see the United States take such a weak position, given the number of the world’s largest plastic polluters that are headquartered in the US. Our addiction to throwaway plastic is not only a crisis for our oceans, but also for our climate, public health, and environmental justice. And in the White House, President Biden’s representatives are echoing the same lines as they did under Trump.
“Voluntary commitments have fallen far short of what is needed, as have approaches that focus on recycling or other end of pipe strategies. We cannot solve plastic pollution unless we tackle plastic production. As long as we continue to produce trillions of throwaway plastic items a year, the flow of plastic into the ocean and into our bodies will continue.”
Contact:
Katie Nelson, Senior Communications Specialist, Greenpeace USA: +1 (678) 644-1681, [email protected]
