{"id":59352,"date":"2023-04-27T11:36:19","date_gmt":"2023-04-26T23:36:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/?p=59352"},"modified":"2024-07-11T12:21:33","modified_gmt":"2024-07-11T00:21:33","slug":"why-we-need-a-strong-global-plastics-treaty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/why-we-need-a-strong-global-plastics-treaty\/","title":{"rendered":"Why we need a strong Global Plastics Treaty"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our world is being destroyed by throwaway plastic. Plastic pollution has flooded our planet, harming people\u2019s health<\/a>, accelerating social injustice, destroying biodiversity and fueling the climate crisis<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

The fact is that 99% of plastic is made from oil and gas \u2014  and Big Oil like Exxonmobil are contributing to making more and more plastic each year. According to new research released a few weeks ago, plastic use in G20 nations will almost double by 2050<\/a>. If industry has its way, plastic production could actually double<\/a> well before that.<\/p>\n\n

The full lifecycle of plastic harms livelihoods and the climate every step of the way. Plastics also pose distinct risks to human health<\/a> at every stage of their lifecycle, arising from harmful chemicals released during raw material extraction and manufacturing, exposure to chemical additives during use, and the pollution of the environment and our food that can result as plastics enter the waste stream.<\/p>\n\n

Despite all of this, Big Oil, in league with big brands<\/a> like Unilever<\/a>, Nestl\u00e9<\/a> and Coca-Cola<\/a>, continues to promote false solutions and a throwaway single-use model where \u2018convenience\u2019 and corporate profits outweigh the cost to our communities.  <\/p>\n\n

\"Plastic
Close up of litter and Coke bottle on the beach. \n\nCrew from the Beluga II survey a beach called Shell Inlet on the Isle of Lewis in the outer Hebrides. \nGreenpeace has brought its ship the Beluga II on an expedition of scientific research around Scotland, sampling seawater for microplastics and documenting the impact of ocean plastic on some of the UK\u2019s most precious marine life.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

The Global Plastics Treaty is a once in a lifetime opportunity<\/h2>\n\n

But the good news is that we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to end the plastic crisis. The negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty began in 2022<\/a> and we now have until 2024 to ensure it is strong and ambitious. <\/p>\n\n

To end the plastic and climate crisis, we need a Global Plastics Treaty that will:<\/p>\n\n