Along with Rwanda, Norway
co-leads an important UN environmental coalition, called the "High Ambition Coalition." This coalition aims to fight climate change by pushing countries around the world to adopt and follow through on ambitious, impressive climate goals. Norway is also the largest source of donations to the UN Environment Program (UNEP).
But now, as countries struggle to agree to even meet bare-minimum environmental targets,
Norway has pulled back on funding for the UNEP. This is a pivotal moment that could push the world to finally take action.
Sign the petition to demand that nations around the world finally stop dragging their metaphorical 'feet' and commit to a serious plastic-reduction treaty!For years, the UNEP has been overseeing negotiations to help world leaders to agree on
a treaty to reduce plastic use and production. Everyone knows that
plastics are a huge source of pollution around the world - in waterways, in landfills, and even in animals' stomachs. In the next 24 years, researchers estimate there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean.
Microplastics have now been found in virtually everything, from human sperm and breastmilk, to inside fish, in tap water, and pretty much everything else in between.
But, unsurprisingly, corporate influence and lobbying has made it difficult for countries to reach a treaty agreement. These negotiations have been going on for 4 years so far. The UN's deadline for countries developing a legally binding treaty was 2 years ago. Now, with the UNEP's biggest donor pressing pause on funding,
it's rightfully putting pressure on the UN as well as other governments to finally get honest about what they're doing.Are they really trying to help the earth and public health, reduce pollution, and fight climate change? Or are they just pretending, and really wasting everyone's time (and money) in the process?
Norway's decision is a bold one, and we are calling on world leaders to recognize this for the important opportunity that it is. Member states of the UNEP have a choice: they can genuinely commit to serious, binding limits on plastic pollution, or they can admit they never cared about this in the first place - and then face the public humiliation of owning up to their lies.
Sign the petition to demand that governments around the world finally stop avoiding this important issue, and sign a legally-binding treaty to reduce or eliminate new plastic use! Help us save the Earth!