Environment

Strong Global Plastics Treaty Now

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Target Number: 1000

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This initiative is powered by The Vocal Minority in partnership with the Australian Marine Conservation Society

Strong Global Plastics Treaty Now

Sign the petition to help stop ocean plastic pollution!

Australia’s oceans and beaches are choking on plastic pollution. We urgently need a strong Global Plastics Treaty!

Over 250 kg of plastic leaks into Australia’s environment every minute.¹ There are now up to 40,000 pieces of plastic per square kilometre on the most polluted parts of Australia’s coastline.²

The less plastic humans produce, the less plastic ends up polluting our beaches and oceans.³

Right now, we have a unique opportunity to end plastic pollution here in Australia and around the world. Hundreds of countries are negotiating a Global Plastics Treaty. The plastics treaty could create new binding laws to tackle the growing plastic pollution crisis. But it’s at risk of failing.

Over 99% plastics are made from fossil fuels.⁴ Some oil-producing nations and plastic industry lobbyists are stalling Global Plastics Treaty negotiations.

So far, the Australian Government has taken a strong position in global negotiations. We need them to keep going.

Sign your name to call on the Australian Government to remain strong and negotiate a Global Plastics Treaty that the oceans and people of the world desperately need.

References

1. O’Farrell, K., Harney, F., & Chakma, P. (2021). Australian Plastics Flows and Fates Study 2019-20 – National Report. Prepared for the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
2. Hardesty, B. D., Lawson, T., van der Velde, T., Lansdell, M., & Wilcox, C. (2016). Estimating quantities and sources of marine debris at a continental scale. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 15(1), 18–25.
3.Cowger, W., Willis, K. A., Bullock, S., Conlon, K., Emmanuel, J., Erdle, L. M., Eriksen, M., Farrelly, T. A., Hardesty, B. D., Kerge, K., Li, N., Li, Y., Liebman, A., Tangri, N., Thiel, M., Villarrubia-Gómez, P., Walker, T. R., & Wang, M. (2024). Global producer responsibility for plastic pollution. Science Advances, 10(17).
4.CIEL. (2019). Fossil Fuels & Plastic.

 

Read The letter

To the Honourable Minister for the Environment,

We know the value of Australia’s beautiful coastlines and oceans, and what is at risk if the Global Plastics Treaty fails. We, the undersigned, urge the Australian Government to hold firm against the influence of fossil fuel and plastic industry lobbyists, maintain a high ambition, and support a strong Global Plastics Treaty that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics, including plastic fishing and aquaculture gear.

Plastic pollution is an escalating environmental disaster that will not end unless the world takes collective action.

Our oceans are inundated with plastic fragments that are maiming, strangling, starving and suffocating marine creatures.

The Australian Government has a responsibility to advocate for, and implement a strong Global Plastics Treaty that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics. We’re calling on the Australian Government to:

  1. Maintain high ambition and publicly advocate for a strong Global Plastics Treaty that ends plastic pollution, cuts plastic production and consumption and bans needless plastics.
  2. Finalise a strong Global Plastics Treaty that addresses the full lifecycle of plastic fishing and aquaculture gear, including design, use, safe retrieval and responsible disposal.
  3. Implement domestic actions to end plastic pollution, including design rules, bans on unnecessary packaging, and funding clean-ups of plastic pollution from international sources.

Australia has the opportunity to lead on this issue and set an example for the world. By supporting a comprehensive, effective, and enforceable Global Plastics Treaty, you can help ensure a cleaner, healthier future for our oceans, marine life, and future generations.

Sign the Petition Now

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    Supporter Comments

    Ben B. 1 day ago

    signed Strong Global Plastics Treaty Now

    Signing helps you be part of a global solution to a growing crisis

    Environment

    Strong Global Plastics Treaty Now

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