Late last night, after two weeks of intense negotiations, delegates meeting at the United Nations finally agreed to language for a High Seas Treaty. This is a major milestone in a nearly two-decade effort to secure a treaty to govern and protect the High Seas, which make up 70% of the ocean and cover nearly half the planet. More than 160,000 supporters spoke up and urged leaders to act. This public support, along with the great work of partners like RISE UP, the High Seas Alliance, Greenpeace, and more, helped show decision-makers that people all over the world were watching and wanted action — and they delivered. There is still more work to do, as nations will now need to formally adopt the language and ratify the treaty at the country level. We will continue to keep you updated on campaign developments and the critical moments where we need your support.
Right now, companies are creating crushing amounts of plastic pollution, and New Yorkers are forced to bear the costs. But two new plastics bills could change that and hold manufacturers — not taxpayers — accountable for the pollution they produce.
An unraveling crisis
New York generates more than 17 million tons of municipal solid waste annually, almost one ton per person. Less than one quarter of that waste is recycled. The rest chokes landfills, public spaces, beaches, and waterways. In just one example, studies estimate that at any given moment, 165 million plastic particles are floating in New York Harbor.
Aside from being a major threat to biodiversity, human health, and quality of life, the cost of managing an ever-growing pile of waste is not cheap. Unclear labeling on plastic products and mixed material goods make separating the recyclable from the non-recyclable an expensive challenge, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions annually.
