As the UN General Assembly opening approaches, global stars have come together to loudly urge for an end to plastic pollution. Actors and athletes, including Tony and Grammy Award winner Bette Midler and Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o, are calling on world leaders for a “strong international plastic agreement” that includes a reduction in plastic production.
In an open letter, they appealed, “We must draft a strong international plastic agreement to end single-use plastics,” emphasizing the seriousness of plastic pollution. They also warned, “Without a radical reduction in production and use of plastics, no policy can serve as a fundamental solution.”
This open letter was part of Greenpeace’s ‘Race to Busan’ campaign. The ‘Race to Busan’ is a global campaign from Greenpeace in which stars worldwide are demanding a strong international plastic agreement. Kicking off in August with the Paris Olympics, the final negotiation meeting for the agreement (INC5) will take place in November, with messages from participating stars to be shared on Greenpeace’s social media channels.
The international plastic agreement meeting is a gathering where UN member countries come together to create rules covering the entire lifecycle of plastics from production to disposal, in order to escape plastic pollution. The first meeting began in November 2022 in Uruguay, and the final fifth meeting will be held in Busan in November 2024. Greenpeace has been demanding that the goal of reducing plastic production by over 75% by 2040 be included in the international plastic agreement. However, reducing plastic production is one of the most fiercely debated topics in the negotiation of the agreement, with countries advocating for oil production and the industry pushing for an emphasis on waste management only.
Kim Nara, a Greenpeace plastic campaigner, stated, “We hope that through this open letter, more people will learn about the importance of the international plastic agreement. It is the only opportunity we have to end plastic pollution.” She also expressed the hope that many athletes in Korea would join the Race to Busan and exert positive influence for a strong plastic agreement to be reached.
Meanwhile, for the last negotiation meeting of the international plastic agreement (INC5) in November, Greenpeace International’s environmental monitoring ship, the Rainbow Warrior, will visit Korea. The Rainbow Warrior has been sailing worldwide to raise awareness of serious environmental issues and advocate for sustainable solutions. Greenpeace International is conducting campaigns urging governments to support a strong international plastic agreement that works effectively.
By Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr