Support efforts for treaty on plastics

Plastic proliferation severely impacts human health, climate change, the environment and wildlife. Plastics break down into tiny bits and are absorbed into our arteries, blood and organs. A World Wildlife Fund study found that we likely consume about a credit card’s worth of plastic every week. Plastics and microplastics have been linked to infertility, cancer, heart attacks and stroke, plus digestive and respiratory risks in humans.

Fossil fuel companies, which foresee a significant decline in fossil fuel use for energy, are investing in plastic production to maintain profits since plastics are made from oil, gas and their byproducts. Due to this investment, plastic production is expected to triple 2019 levels by 2050.

Plastic production is an extensive source of greenhouse gas emissions. Plastic waste leaks into lakes, rivers and oceans altering habitats and posing severe injury or death to wildlife.

To address the plastic crisis, 190 countries, including the U.S. are negotiating a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty. The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee began in Canada on April 23. Over 350 independent scientists from over 60 countries were to offer policy-relevant scientific evidence.

However, there are concerns over the number of fossil fuel and chemical lobbyists who have attended the negotiation session. Especially since these lobbyists recommend the treaty be limited to improved recycling and waste management instead of decreasing plastic production and consumption.

The human and environmental health impact of plastics is at stake. You can urge the U.S. Department of State to adopt a strong Global Plastics Treaty and begin to examine ways you can reduce your family’s exposure to harmful plastics. You can also contact your Illinois legislators and urge them to support bills that focus on reducing plastic pollution in Illinois.

Donna Limper

Bloomingdale