Responding to news reports that the US government will now support the UN’s global treaty calling for a reduction in how much plastic is produced each year, Greenpeace UK’s political campaigner, Rudy Schulkind, said:

“This is a major shift from one of the world’s largest producers of plastic, taking us a step closer to a strong Global Plastics Treaty that puts proper limits on plastic production.

“Without limiting production, an ever-increasing amount of plastic will continue to pollute our natural environments and be dumped on countries in the Global South, devastating both wildlife and humans and undermining wider decarbonisation goals.

“The USA, like the EU a few weeks before, has materially strengthened its position and this puts a strong global target to cut plastic production within reach. It’s now time for the UK government to follow suit, show genuine ambition and leadership on the world stage, and take us towards the plastic-free future that we desperately need.”