Page 37 - Plastics News February 2018

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Canada to use G7 to highlight

plastic marine litter

anadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to use
Chis country's presidency of the G7 economic bloc this
year to highlight plastic pollution in oceans, with one of
his top aides suggesting Canada could push for some type
of "plastics charter." Trudeau hosted a forum on ocean
protection January 24 at the World Economic Forum in
Davos, Switzerland, where he said Canada intended to raise
some new issues on the G7 agenda, "particularly around
plastics and pollution," according to the Canadian Press
news agency. Canada's Environment and Climate Change
Minister Catherine McKenna is also learnt to have insisted
on creating a "plastics charter or zero waste goal."It's not
clear what specific actions the G7 could take, but it is a
sign that plastics and marine pollution will remain a focus
of various high-level
government meetings.
A spokesperson for
McKenna declined to
elaborate on Canada's
plans for having the
G7 focus on plastics.
McKenna was quoted saying that plastics will be a theme of
a G7 leaders' summit in Quebec in June, and a follow-up G7
environment ministers' meeting later in the year. Canada's
plan appeared to get an endorsement from Unilever CEO
Paul Polman on Twitter. Polman retweeted an article
with the headline "Canada pushing G7 nations to sign no
plastics pledge to save world's oceans" and added that he
thanked Trudeau and McKenna for "putting higher on G7
agenda ... honoured to help. Great discussion, now action
by all." The article quoted McKenna saying Canada would
build on existing work by international organizations and
multinational corporations. "The health of the oceans is
under threat," McKenna said.
Without providing specifics, a spokesperson for McKenna
said in an email that ocean health would be a topic at the
G7, which also includes France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
the United Kingdom and the United States."In Canada,
we are experiencing the reality of marine litter on all of
our coasts, including in the Arctic. On shorelines around
the world, the impacts of marine litter are striking," the
statement said. "Canada is committed to tackling these
important issues, including through our G7 Presidency
this year. Now is the time for action and everyone has a
role to play."

37 Feb ruar y 2018 Plastics News