United States environmental policy has not been a consistent straight line; that much, everyone can agree on. As national leadership oscillates between Democrats and Republicans, policies have switched from embracing fossil fuels to supporting the clean energy transition and back again and again.
One recent switch on environmental policy within the soon-to-concluded Biden administration took place in April, when the U.S. endorsed global limits on plastic production, which are desperately needed to protect people from toxic chemicals and climate change. And then, following political defeat, the administration backtracked with no real explanation, abandoning the millions of Americans and people around the world who are desperate for change.
In a moment when the U.S. and the world are confronting exponential uncertainty, now is not the time for the Biden administration to go quietly into the night.
In this final push, the Biden administration must support measures to limit plastic production, prioritize a human-rights approach, and reduce or eliminate toxic chemicals in plastics.
As we approach the end of the final round of negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty—which represents one of the most significant opportunities of our lifetime to protect human health and end plastic pollution—the urgency has never been clearer. This is our chance to confront the plastic crisis head-on.
With a new administration on the horizon—one that has shown hostility toward science and an affinity for corporate polluters—the Biden-Harris administration must, as one of its final acts, stick to its word and champion a robust treaty that cuts plastic production.
Plastics are making the climate crisis worse—99% of plastics are made from fossil fuels and corporations keep making more. To date, it is estimated that only 9% of all the plastic ever produced has been recycled globally, and production is projected to increase in the years to come. We will never be able to solve this crisis with just waste management and cleanups.
In the lead-up to the presidential election, Americans witnessed the devastating effects of climate change firsthand: Florida and North Carolina were battered by unprecedented storms, droughts parched vast regions of the country, and wildfires raged uncontrollably. This past summer was the hottest on record, with global temperatures soaring 2.25°F above the long-term average.
Scientists warn that we need to cut plastic production by at least 75% to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. The United Nations has echoed this urgency, stating that global climate action is lagging and that immediate, dramatic efforts are essential to meet international temperature targets.
Plastic is also harmful at every step of its life cycle, from sourcing raw materials (like oil, gas, and coal) to production, transportation, usage, recycling, burning, and disposal. The chemicals in plastic have been linked to death, illness, and disability.
More than 3,200 identified chemicals found in plastics have been associated with severe health concerns, including cancer, nervous system disorders, and hormonal imbalances. These chemicals have been implicated in the development of diseases such as cancer, heart conditions, and obesity.
In addition to the immediate dangers of oil and gas-fueled climate chaos, countless Americans unknowingly face a silent crisis: plastic pollution. They consume food and water contaminated with microplastics and harmful chemicals that pose serious health risks. Communities located near plastic production and disposal facilities suffer the most, breathing air laden with toxins that lead to cancer, diabetes, neurological disorders, and other health issues. This public health crisis comes with an estimated annual cost of $250 billion to our healthcare system—a toll exacerbated by the plastic industry's recalcitrance to stop runaway plastic production.
Yet, as we close out 2024 and brace for an uncertain future under an administration that openly denies science, headed by a president who has often dismissed climate change and its impacts, there remains much that President Joe Biden can do. After all, he has built his career on a commitment to public service; backtracking on promises to support global controls to reduce plastic production, in the final months of his presidency, would be a stain on that record. Now is the time to serve all Americans by rising to this challenge, and securing a greener, more just world for generations to come.
We stand at a pivotal moment: the Busan talks—the fifth and most critical stage of negotiations for the Global Plastics Treaty. World leaders must rise to the occasion and take bold action to curtail plastic production and end single-use plastics. A weak treaty is a failure; we need a strong, ambitious agreement that protects our health, our communities, our climate, and our planet.
In this final push, the Biden administration must support measures to limit plastic production, prioritize a human-rights approach, and reduce or eliminate toxic chemicals in plastics. We call on him to champion our planet, our communities, and our health for generations to come. The time for action is now. Our future depends on it.
