Experts have made it clear that urgent action is needed to curb our consumption of plastics. The global production of plastics has increased from 2 million tons in 1950 to over 400 million tons in 2022, and is expected to triple by 2050. The direct impacts of plastic production and pollution are well-documented across human and environmental health, and plastic production contributes to other planetary crises, including climate change.

ACT NOW! Raise your voice and help contribute to a video calling on member state representatives at INC-4 to support the inclusion of justice and human rights in the Global Plastics Treaty. You can find video submission details here. Encuentra instrucciones en español aquí.

>> CLICK HERE TO RECORD AND SUBMIT YOUR VIDEO <<

Global Plastics Treaty to End Plastic Pollution!

In March 2022, 195 countries endorsed a resolution to forge an international legally-binding treaty to end plastic pollution by the end of 2024. The resolution, based on three initial draft resolutions from various nations, establishes an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), which began its work in 2022, with the ambition of completing a draft global legally binding agreement by the end of 2024. The Global Plastics Treaty aims include multiple approaches to address the full life-cycle of plastics from product design to disposal. The current Revised Zero Draft, prepared by the Secretariat of the INC can be found here.

Advancing Justice and Human Rights in the Global Plastics Treaty

Every step of the plastic lifecycle unfairly impacts the ocean and marginalized communities. Plastics pose not only environmental challenges but also threaten our climate, ocean health, and human rights. The Global Plastics Treaty offers an opportunity to tackle these issues equitably. Yet, the current treaty text overlooks justice and human rights concerns. For a deeper understanding, delve into the report ‘Advancing Ocean Justice in the Global Plastics Treaty’ by Earth Law Center. This report emphasizes the importance of ocean justice, encompassing ocean health, human rights, and social equity, in shaping effective plastic governance strategies.

JOIN US! Sign our petition asking member state representatives at INC-4 to support the inclusion of ocean justice and human rights in the Global Plastics Treaty.

What is #Youth4PlasticJustice?

To build continued support and momentum for a Global Plastic Treaty that includes consideration for ocean justice and human rights, EarthEcho International and Earth Law Center are planning a series of actions as part of an advocacy campaign call #Youth4PlasticJustice at the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-4) taking place from 23 to 29 April 2024 in Ottawa, Canada.

Here’s how you can get involved:

You can join the #Youth4PlasticJustice movement by taking one or more of the following actions:

1. Raise your voice and help contribute to a video calling on member state representatives at INC-4 to support the inclusion of justice and human rights in the Global Plastics Treaty. Check out these submission details, then....
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   >> RECORD AND SUBMIT YOUR VIDEO HERE <<
2. Join us at INC-4 for our official side event!
   Title: Youth Advocacy for Ocean Justice to End Plastic Pollution
   Date: Thursday, April 25, 2024
   Time: 12 - 1 pm EDT
   Location: National Arts Centre (NAC): 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, ON (5 min walk from the Shaw Centre) in O’Born Room (top-level).
   Register here: https://www.plasticactionzone-zonedactionplastique.ca/events/youth-advocacy-for-ocean-justice-to-end-plastic-pollution
   
   Join us for an empowering youth panel discussion on ocean justice and plastic pollution, shining a light on the indispensable role of youth advocacy alongside the Global Plastics Treaty and within local plastic initiatives. Centered on the theme of ocean justice, this panel will bring together global youth from various sectors, including human rights, social justice, and ocean science, to explore how youth perspectives can ignite meaningful change. Drawing from insights presented in the recent report "Advancing Ocean Justice in the Global Plastics Treaty," and with a particular emphasis on amplifying youth voices, the event seeks to inspire a focus on justice alongside the negotiations and discourse on plastic solutions. This event is co-led by EarthEcho International, Earth Law Center, The Ocean Project, and World Ocean Day. Together, we will launch the #Youth4PlasticJustice campaign, encouraging calls to action to empower youth and reshape understandings of plastic pollution as an ocean justice crisis.
   
   Our speakers will include:
   
   • Moderator: Rachel Bustamante, Ocean Program Director at Earth Law Center
   • Joshua Prentice, Plastics and Minamata Thematic Focal Point of the UN Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform
   • Skw’akw’as (Sunshine) Dunstan-Moore, representative from the Government of Canada’s Environment and Climate Change Youth Council
   • Roland Gonzalez Pizarro, National Policy Associate at Azul Diego
   • Arreola Fernández, Youth Representative of Captain Planet FoundationLindsey
   • Marie Coffey, Fashion model, environmental activist, and Miss Earth 2020
3. Sign our petition! Join us in asking member state representatives at INC-4 to support the inclusion of ocean justice and human rights in the Global Plastics Treaty.
4. Share #Youth4PlasticJustice on social media! Find our social media toolkit here.

EarthEcho International: EarthEcho International is an international nonprofit that envisions a world where every individual, from all backgrounds and experiences, has the opportunity and tools to create a healthy and thriving environment. EarthEcho’s mission is to build a global youth movement to protect and restore our ocean planet, a critical part of creating a sustainable and equitable future for all. Established by explorer and advocate Philippe Cousteau, Jr, in honor of his father, Philippe Cousteau Sr., and grandfather, legendary explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, EarthEcho reaches more than 2 million people in 146 countries, providing original education content, immersive training and leadership experiences, and active collaboration networks free of charge for youth and the teachers and community leaders who work with them. Our signature programs equip individuals and groups to identify local needs, develop plans, and take action starting in their own communities as part of a larger, connected global network of changemakers.

Earth Law Center: ​​Earth Law Center (ELC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to advance ecocentric laws, policies, and governance for the well-being of the Earth Community. ELC aims to mitigate the effects of climate change, biodiversity loss, and degradation of ecosystems and to restore a flourishing Earth Community on behalf of present and future generations of all species. ELC is a member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Plastic Pollution Coalition, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and the High Seas Alliance.