Washington, DC – Today at the United Nations Environment Programme headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the U.S. is in support of developing a global plastic treaty. During the Trump Administration, the U.S. had been one of a handful of nations opposed to the treaty, and played a key role in delaying action for two years.
In response to the announcement, Greenpeace USA Oceans Campaign Director John Hocevar said:
“It is encouraging to see the U.S. throwing its support behind a global plastic treaty. Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, with the impacts growing more serious every day. Plastic is a global problem, and requires action and coordination at a global scale. As a major producer and exporter of plastic, the U.S. has a responsibility to take a leadership role.
“Our focus must be broader than keeping plastic waste out of the ocean. We have put so much plastic into the environment that it is in the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. Plastic is fueling the climate crisis and harming our health. The damage caused by plastic production and disposal is a major environmental justice issue, with communities of color often suffering the worst impacts.
“Voluntary measures are not going to be sufficient. We need to see real leadership, and that means initiatives at all geographic scales that will swiftly move us away from our reliance on plastic and facilitate a transition to package-free options and reuse. Plastic is a problem that must be addressed at the source. Until we stop making so much plastic, the damage to our oceans, our climate, and our health will only get worse.”
###
Contact: Perry Wheeler, Greenpeace USA Senior Communications Specialist, P: 301-675-8766
