Call for President Biden to Institute a Whole-of-Government Approach to Plastic Pollution
Today, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) joined several NGOs and foundations to issue a letter to President Biden calling for him to institute a whole-of-government approach at the federal level to advance ambitious solutions to plastic pollution, both in the U.S. and internationally. WWF issued the following statement from Alejandro Pérez, senior vice president of policy and government affairs:
“With plastic pollution devastating our environment and threatening the economic and human health of our communities, we need bold action at all levels of society with the U.S. government leading the way. We are calling on the President to elevate this issue across his Administration, activating the full power of the federal government and signaling American leadership on an issue of global significance.
“The Administration has already demonstrated significant leadership, including by working with other countries toward securing an international agreement to end plastic pollution. We must seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity to set ourselves on a course to a future where plastic no longer ends up in nature.
"By instituting a whole-of-government approach at the federal level, you can empower these growing efforts, help them flourish, and add significant momentum to efforts to advance ambitious solutions to plastic pollution in the U.S. and internationally. We respectfully encourage you to take such presidential action…" - Excerpt from Letter to President Biden
“We also need concerted action in the U.S. to put solutions in place now. Presidential action to address plastic pollution here at home will spur the regulatory certainty that leading companies are calling for to enable them to innovate and move further faster. It will also help to drive global ambition at a pivotal moment.
“President Biden has an opportunity to put the full weight of the federal government behind solutions to catalyze a circular economy and set the stage for concerted global action. We are witnessing a groundswell of support from business and the American public. It’s time to supercharge it with a government-wide approach to reducing plastic pollution.”
##
Read the letter here.
LLamado al presidente Biden para que instituya un enfoque gubernamental integral frente a la contaminación por plásticos
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) se une a varias ONG y fundaciones para enviar una carta al presidente Biden pidiéndole que instituya un enfoque gubernamental integral a nivel federal para promover soluciones ambiciosas ante la contaminación por plásticos, tanto en Estados Unidos como a nivel internacional. WWF emitió el siguiente comunicado de Alejandro Pérez, vicepresidente senior de políticas y asuntos gubernamentales:
“La contaminación por plásticos devasta nuestro medio ambiente y amenaza la salud económica y humana de nuestras comunidades, por lo que necesitamos acciones significativas en todos los niveles de la sociedad, junto con el liderazgo del gobierno de Estados Unidos. Hacemos un llamado al Presidente para que plantee este tema en toda su administración, activando todas las capacidades del gobierno federal y señalando el liderazgo estadounidense en un tema de importancia global”.
“La Administración ya ha demostrado un liderazgo significativo, incluso trabajando con otros países para asegurar un acuerdo internacional para poner fin a la contaminación por plásticos. Debemos aprovechar esta oportunidad única para encaminarnos hacia un futuro en el que el plástico ya no termine en la naturaleza”.
Extracto de la carta al presidente Biden:
"Al instituir un enfoque de todo el gobierno a nivel federal, se pueden potenciar estos crecientes esfuerzos, ayudarlos a florecer y agregar un gran impulso a los esfuerzos para promover soluciones ambiciosas a la contaminación por plásticos en EE. UU. y a nivel internacional...."
“También necesitamos acciones concertadas en Estados Unidos para implementar soluciones hoy mismo. Las acciones presidenciales para abordar la contaminación por plásticos aquí en nuestro país estimularán la certeza regulatoria que las empresas líderes están pidiendo para permitirles innovar y avanzar más rápido. También ayudará a impulsar la ambición global durante un momento crucial”.
“El presidente Biden tiene la oportunidad de poner todo el peso del gobierno federal respaldando soluciones que catalicen una economía circular y ayuden a sentar las bases para lograr una acción global concertada. Estamos siendo testigos de una oleada de apoyo por parte de las empresas y del público estadounidense. Es hora de potenciarlo con un enfoque gubernamental para reducir la contaminación por plásticos”.
WWF statement on global temperatures exceeding 1.5°C over 12-month period
Today, the Copernicus Climate Change Service released data detailing the record-breaking temperatures recorded in January 2024, making it the warmest January on record. The data shows that Earth endured 12 consecutive months with global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. In response, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) issued the following statement from Marcene Mitchell, WWF senior vice president of climate change:
“This is yet another reminder that while much has been accomplished, our work to-date to address climate change isn’t enough. This warmest January on record marked the eighth month in a row of record-setting temperatures. It’s time to stop ignoring the bell that tolls for a climate tragedy, and use this data to inform our next steps, both in the U.S. and globally.
“We must act in the next six years to bend the curve on emissions, so what we decide to do now is more important than ever before -- and the solutions are within our reach. Action now must consist of activities like tripling renewable energy deployment, phasing out fossil fuels, taking gas cars off the road, electrifying our homes and buildings, and investing in green technologies to transform industry and food systems.
“It's going to require active intervention, but committing to these steps can significantly shift the fight against climate change in our favor. We must pick up the pace to ensure a healthier, more just, and sustainable future.”