In the Aug. 14 article on the plastics treaty talks, ["US seeks middle ground in plastics treaty talks," Page 1], Liz Nichols, a U.S. State Department negotiator, said that the U.S. "doesn't want to join a faction," pandering to the industry most responsible for creating the plastic pollution crisis.
Isolated from its allies and aligned with petrostates, it is past time for the U.S. to join a faction — the rapidly growing movement for real solutions. With 99 percent of plastics created from the fossil fuels that are boiling our planet, and plastics poisoning our communities all along the production chain, the situation is too dire for President Biden to ignore the broad public support for action.
The same article references a call from Sen. Jeff Merkely, D-Ore., on the Biden Administration to use executive authority to push for a high ambition agreement. Sen. Merkley is right. With the support of the U.S., this treaty could make history — it could phase down plastic production, end single-use plastics, and start the just transition to a reuse-based economy.
The current U.S. position adds up to nothing more than empty promises and expanding plastic production. It amounts to siding with the polluters. It amounts to allowing unnecessary plastics to continue driving climate disasters, polluting communities, and filling our bodies with microplastics in the name of profit. Frontline and fenceline communities bearing the brunt of these impacts deserve more, the American people deserve more.
We at Greenpeace USA are glad that Nichols enjoyed our "wonderful conversations," but our message has been clear: this choice is life or death for our planet and our communities. Please make the right one.
Kaitlyn Trent is senior oceans campaigner for Greenpeace USA.