On November 18, 2021, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced U.S. government support for a UN global treaty on plastics. Chever Voltmer, director of Ocean Conservancy’s Plastics Initiative and former Deputy Director of the Office of Oceans and Polar Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, issued the following statement:

“We are thrilled to see the Biden Administration announce their support for new, multilateral negotiations on a global agreement to combat ocean plastic pollution, which are anticipated to begin at the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) in February 2022. Secretary Blinken’s announcement comes after the passage of new funding for the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package that we at Ocean Conservancy strongly support. These two crucial steps from the Administration signal a readiness to tackle this problem head-on. As the leading generator of virgin, single-use plastics that often contaminate our oceans and waterways, the United States, in collaboration with allies and partners around the globe, is uniquely positioned to demonstrate strong leadership to deliver a timely, ambitious, just, and inclusive global agreement.”

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About Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas® Program

Ocean Conservancy has led the fight for a clean, healthy ocean free of trash since 1986, when the U.S.-based nonprofit launched its annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC). Since then, Ocean Conservancy has mobilized millions of ICC volunteers to remove trash from beaches and waterways around the world while pioneering upstream solutions to the growing ocean plastics crisis. Ocean Conservancy invests in cutting-edge scientific research, implements on-the-ground projects, and works with conservationists, scientists, governments, the private sector and members of the public to change the plastics paradigm. To learn more about our Trash Free Seas® program visit oceanconservancy.org/trashfreeseas, and follow Ocean Conservancy on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.