Plastics & Ocean Justice

How Plastics Harm the Ocean and Us

Plastics are an ocean justice crisis. Both marginalized communities and ocean ecosystems are disproportionately harmed across the full plastic lifecycle: from production to end pollution. This interconnection highlights the urgent need for heightened awareness and targeted policy action to address the injustices perpetuated by plastics.

Advocating for a Just Global Plastics Treaty

The development of an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, presents a vital opportunity to forge collective commitments to end plastic pollution at its source. We advocate for a just treaty that:

Sets a limit and phase-down on plastic production to keep the 1.5C target in reach;
Promotes ocean justice solutions that safeguard the ocean and vulnerable communities;
Upholds human rights, including Indigenous rights, and integrates principles of justice throughout the agreement; and
Includes measurable and time-bound mandates across the full lifecycle, including bans and phase-outs of unnecessary plastics and chemicals of concern.

Our Impact

We released a comprehensive science + policy report: “Advancing Ocean Justice in the Global Plastics Treaty” (available in Resources section below) to amplify this issue within the context of the plastic treaty talks.

Recognizing the gap of ocean justice in discussions on plastic pollution, we are actively engaged in raising awareness, crafting resources, and mobilizing stakeholders to address plastic injustices.

Our advocacy efforts culminated in our participation in the fourth round of negotiations (INC-4), where we engaged with US Senators, hosted a panel spotlighting youth voices in collaboration with partners, and curated content to increase the visibility and impact of the treaty discussions, often overlooked by the public.

With the UN aiming to conclude the treaty by late 2024 at INC-5 in Busan, South Korea, we are redoubling our efforts toward advocacy for a just and equitable agreement that includes ocean justice and human rights.

Join Us: Take Action for Ocean Justice

Sign our petition to demand negotiators advance ocean justice in the Global Plastics Treaty, in partnership with EarthEcho International.
Explore and share our resources to deepen your understanding of the treaty and the plastic pollution crisis.