Lupita Joins Greenpeace Plastic Treaty Petition

Actress Lupita Nyong’o has joined the calls to sign a petition on the global plastic treaty championed by Greenpeace.

The endorsement by Lupita is expected to shore up support for the petition that has so far been signed by 333,424 people globally. This out of the expected 400,000 signatures.

“Join me and tell the world leaders to champion a strong global plastics treaty during negotiations so that we can commit to end the age of plastic,” says Lupita in her call to action

 This treaty the organization says has huge potential to set the globe on the path to a plastic-free future.

“Now it’s up to us to make sure it delivers on its promises,” reads part of the petition.

Between May 29^th and June 2^nd, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee will be holding its second session in Paris, France. The meet is expected to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.

“We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to call for a strong global plastics treaty that will keep oil and gas used to produce plastic in the ground and stop big polluters with their relentless plastic production. A strong plastics treaty will deliver a cleaner, safer planet for us and for future generations,” says Greenpeace in its petition.

In February 2022, a historic resolution was adopted to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment with the ambition to complete the negotiations by the end of 2024.

Calls have since been growing for both government and corporations to take up measures to ban, reduce,

safely circulate and manage specific high-risk plastics.

“Many of these products we can easily do without, especially where non-plastic alternatives already

exist. These include unnecessary single-use items like plastic cutlery, cigarette filters and microplastics added to cosmetic products,” notes conservation organization WWF in a research paper titled putting an end to plastic pollution.

In its call, Greenpeace says an effective treaty should focus on limiting the production of plastic with an immediate cap on virgin plastic production to 2017 levels. Additionally, it demands for full transparency on all plastics produced, used, imported and exported through a strong framework for reporting.