“Combattre la Pollution Plastique”: Journée Mondiale de l’environnement

For nearly 50 years, the United Nations has been pushing nations to mobilize to protect nature against the various forms of destruction and pollution, on World Environment Day.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau then emphasized during his speech that: “Climate change knows no borders, and in Canada, we are seeing its consequences firsthand. From forest fires and floods to extreme storms and melting glaciers, it is clear that we must continue to take concrete action. In recent years, the Government of Canada has taken more action than at any other time in Canadian history to protect the environment, while growing the economy and creating good, middle-class jobs. With the measures in our Emissions Reduction Plan, which are already reducing pollution and positioning us to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, we are working to keep our air clean for generations to come. We are launching generational projects to make clean products, like electric vehicles, and produce clean energy here at home.” We've put a price on pollution that puts more money in families' pockets while fighting climate change. And through initiatives like the Oceans Protection Plan and Indigenous-led Area-Based Conservation projects, we're protecting unprecedented amounts of our lands and waters. Thanks to our ongoing efforts, Canada is on track to protect 30,000,000 of our lands and 30,000,000 of our waters by 2030, and is also advocating for the adoption of this target internationally.

He then re-bid “The theme of this year’s World Environment Day, “Solutions to plastic pollution” reminds us of the work that remains to be done to counter the scourge of plastic pollution and the harmful impacts it has on the environment, economy, and health here in Canada, as well as around the world. Each year, more than 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced worldwide, with single-use plastics accounting for about half of that volume. That’s why we’ve banned certain types of harmful single-use plastics. This action will eliminate the equivalent of more than a million garbage bags full of plastic pollution over the next decade. We’re also developing measures to increase the recycling rate of plastic products and keep our environment clean. As a proud member of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, Canada continues to work with its international partners to negotiate a new, ambitious, legally binding international agreement on plastic pollution, which aims to eliminate plastic pollution altogether. We look forward to bringing together partners from around the world for the fourth round of these negotiations in Ottawa in April 2024.”

 On this World Environment Day, Prime Minister Justin Trubeau encouraged Canadians to join the global movement to #BeatPlasticPollution. So we can build a clean and healthy future for the next 50 years and beyond.