Earth Day 2024: Planet vs Plastics

April 22, 2024 Gabby Rush

By Gabby Rush

April 22, 2024

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on the 22nd of April across the globe to commemorate environmental protection and climate action.

For the 54th edition of Earth Day, the organisation has announced its commitment towards a 60% reduction in fossil-fuel plastic production by 2040, with the 2024 theme, “Planet vs Plastics”.

The 2024 Toolkit suggests that recycling alone is inadequate to fight plastic pollution and calls upon consumers and corporations to act. Unfortunately, only 16% of plastics and plastic packaging are recycled, most of which end up in landfills, incineration sites, or our rivers and oceans; further information on the global recycling journey can be found here.

Earth Day is dedicated to raising awareness about the detrimental effects of plastics on human and biodiversity health and promoting research transparency. Its report, “Babies v Plastics“, delves into how plastics, microplastics, and their addictive chemicals can harm children [1]

Earth vs Plastic Illustration by Gabby Rush.

The Global Plastics Treaty

“Plastic is killing us,” says Bryce Coon, director of Climate Education Initiatives at Earthday.org. Individuals are urged to sign a petition for The Global Plastics Treaty to mark Earth Day this year. This treaty is designed to prioritise the planet’s health and its inhabitants over an industry that threatens every human on Earth. Most importantly, it allows countries worldwide to collaborate and commit to restoring the planet, following the successful international cooperation model of the Montreal Protocol.

The Montreal Protocol is an agreement that aims to protect the stratospheric ozone layer by phasing out the production and use of ozone-depleting substances like refrigerators, air conditioners, fire extinguishers, and aerosols.

The Global Plastics Treaty petition relates to the “Babies vs Plastics” report released last year by the Washington D.C.-based Earth Day non-profit. The report compiles over 100 studies and other literature that suggest health risks associated with microplastics (resulting from the breakdown of more oversized plastic items) and their addictive chemicals.

Coon says that in their fight for a more transparent future, over 10,000 signatures for the Treaty have been gathered so far. What’s collected by late April this year will be presented at the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee or “INC-4” in Ottawa, Ontario, set up to advance a legally binding international agreement on plastics by the end of the year. The treaty has been called a Paris Agreement for plastics, but EarthDay.org organisers hope it’s stronger than that.

“These negotiations involve the UN countries coming together to set it up, and everybody sits in a room for 10 days.” Says Aidan Charron, director of End Plastics at EarthDay.org.

“Where we come in is putting pressure on the delegates to make it a successful treaty. We want legally binding mandates, and we want to see a reduction in production.” Charron goes on to explain.

The treaty has support from many countries. The World Economic Forum, a public-private nongovernmental organisation, also has said voluntary initiatives to curb plastic pollution aren’t enough, noting that plastic production and waste more than doubled from 2000-2019 while only 9% of plastic is recycled [2].

Conclusion and Participation: The Earth Day Edition

Earth Day serves as a compelling reminder for people worldwide to consider the impact of plastic pollution, underlining the importance of prohibiting plastic production. The Global Plastics Treaty could be instrumental in eradicating plastic pollution, safeguarding human health, and achieving a world free from waste. The greater the awareness raised, and the more signatures collected to highlight the necessity of banning plastic in UN member states, the more optimistic we can be about realising a future with minimal plastic.

If you’re interested in participating in Earth Day, here are some ways you can make a difference:

Plant trees or start a garden to help the environment and enhance your surroundings.
Establish or join a recycling program to reduce waste and conserve resources.
Commit with your family or community to adopt eco-friendly habits and practices.
Create an earth-friendly meal using local, sustainable, and organic foods.
Avoid discarding or using plastic products that pollute oceans and harm wildlife.
Reduce carbon emissions and air pollution by cycling or using public transportation.
Save energy and water by turning off appliances and lights when not in use and repairing leaks and drips.[3]

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