Tell Leaders We Need a Strong Global Treaty to Tackle the Plastics Crisis

66,852 signed. Let’s get to 75K.

The plastics crisis is an environmental justice and climate change catastrophe—for our physical health and the world we live in. Only swift, meaningful action will save us now. 

Each year, the world produces 300 million tons of plastic waste—nearly the weight of the entire human population—with devastating effects for human and climate health. Social injustice is a part of the narrative, too: the people and communities most affected by plastic production and pollution are disproportionately the most vulnerable and least culpable. 

Fueled by the powerful oil and gas industry—which has committed hundreds of billions of dollars to expanding plastic production—consumers have been sold on a myth that recycling is a comprehensive solution. In truth, every minute, a garbage truck’s worth of plastic clogs up and pollutes the ocean, and as many as 51 trillion pieces of plastic choke every square mile of those precious waters. Still, less than 10 percent of plastics produced are actually recycled. Without action, by 2050, there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

The human consequences are equally severe. Plastic production and pollution releases vast arrays of toxic substances, increasing the risk of cancer and other devastating health issues. In production hotspots like Cancer Alley in Louisiana, which is home to over 150 petrochemical and plastic production plants, the risk of cancer from air pollution is 95 percent higher than for the rest of the country. Waste matters too, as plastic pollution many of us think floats out as ocean rubbish also ends up in the food we eat and the air we breathe. A recent study found we consume as much as five grams of plastic—an entire credit card’s worth—every week.

Plastic products, including fishing nets and line, often kill marine species · Shane Gross
The plastics crisis is a truly global issue · Shawn Heinrichs
Plastics manufacturing impacts the most vulnerable and least culpable people and communities · Goldman Environmental Prize
Without action, by 2050, there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish · Cristina Mittermeier

The plastics crisis is a truly global issue, and its causes and consequences must be comprehensively addressed across the entire life cycle—from plastic creation to end pollution. The private sector has been slow and unwilling to take meaningful action to address the crisis, and so national governments must work together to enact meaningful, global regulations and commitments to address this catastrophe.

Delegations have committed to creating a legally binding Treaty that covers the entire life cycle of plastic and centers on frontline communities, but we must speak up to ensure that that they adhere to this framework and create policies that address the global plastics crisis with the urgency it demands. 

Call on world leaders to adopt a strong Global Plastics Treaty. We’ll keep you up-to-date as negotiations progress.

Latest update: On March 2nd, 2022, Delegations at the U.N. Environment Assembly in Nairobi committed to a treaty framework that is legally binding, covers the entire life cycle of plastic, and centers on the needs of frontline communitiesa huge step in the right direction toward the establishment of a strong Global Plastics Treaty.

Supporters
item?.flag flag 3 hours ago
Tonda B

We all need to our part for a cleaner earth while there is still time.. Tonda Bian, Jacksonville, FL

item?.flag flag 6 hours ago
Gay N

We must fight pollution wherever we find it. It is important to all of us, worldwide.

item?.flag flag 14 hours ago
blick j

our irresponsible abuse of plastic has ruined the planet, our health and threatens our children's future

item?.flag flag 16 hours ago
Chris N

Stop the bullshit of plastic. At this time we should know better.

item?.flag flag 20 hours ago
Deborah S

Its absolutely needed and definitely the right thing to do!

item?.flag flag 23 hours ago
Terri B

plastics are going to be the death of our oceans, our wildlife, our environment and then all of us!

item?.flag flag 23 hours ago
J D

This is a crisis situation! We as a planet must clean up our oceans! This is not OK 50% of the planets species are suffering because of human greed, especially in our oceans! It is more important now than ever to do what we can to help all of our sea life and plants before it’s too late, and it almost is!! The only reason why they’re dying is because of humans and that’s not OK! We must step up protect and clean our oceans now please please please! I beg you for harsh laws that are needed and a must!!! green over humam greed!!

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Liliana M

1

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Carol F

I care about life on earth

item?.flag flag 1 day ago
Sabine S

es schon fast zu spät ist , traurig!

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Cathleen R

We know that every piece of plastic will be on the earth for thousands of years,yet we still are making it? I find it hard that we cant stop the manufacturing of plastic when we all know the consequences. Cathleen Reed

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J. S

itsxa disgrace what weve done to the planet. i can nit belueve it!! i care about our pkanet snd all its wild inhabitants. please, help us clean it up and get rid of all plastics immediately!!! i love Mother Earth and shes screaming for our helo!!

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Marianne F

plastics are not only causing a pollution crisis, the petro-chemical plants producing them are a danger to the communities around them

item?.flag flag 1 day ago
Wendy R

we all must do everything we can. We are already so late in addressing this huge, worldwide issue. Thank

item?.flag flag 1 day ago
Bonnie Y

I want to stop the pollution by the products humans use daily

item?.flag flag 2 days ago
Carol G

All the peoples of the world MUST get behind thiis initiative!

item?.flag flag 2 days ago
J. F

I am on a great lake and we have a problem as well.

item?.flag flag 2 days ago
Virginia M

This is a very important environmental issue.

item?.flag flag 2 days ago
Lori B

WE NEED IT!!! It's beyond anything I ever imagined. As a planet we are in serious trouble.

item?.flag flag 2 days ago
Joseph T

we have to do all we can to make this world a better, cleaner, healthier, place for all to live in.

item?.flag flag 2 days ago
K. E

It's getting Past Time to do this!!!!!!!

item?.flag flag 2 days ago
sandra L

we need to educate people so they don't do that,throw garbage into the ocean.

item?.flag flag 2 days ago
Kathleen N

We need to fix this

item?.flag flag 2 days ago
Kate R

the oceans are trashed because of our purchasing products made of plastic and the inhabitants of the ocean are dying because of our purchases

item?.flag flag 2 days ago
Hope B

The health of our planet is our most valuable resource, more valuable than any amount of money. If our planet is not healthy, we are not healthy, and if we are not healthy, we cannot live the long, happy lives we want and deserve. Our children, their children, and so on, will all be impacted by the choices we make.

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