Two significant dates fall within the year 2024: the 54th Earth Day and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs under the Department of State.
Environmental diplomacy has been vital in closing the hole in our ozone layer, lowering acid rain-causing pollutants, and preserving the populations of important fish species that humans depend on for sustenance over the past fifty years. Because of the efforts of American environmental diplomats, people in the United States and around the world enjoy longer, healthier, and more prosperous lives.
The theme of this year’s Earth Day is the threat that plastic waste poses to our oceans and waterways, as well as to the marine life and humans who depend on these delicate ecosystems. In response to this threat, the United States is acting both domestically and internationally, as we have in the past when faced with environmental issues. We are spearheading negotiations for a global plastic pollution accord that will safeguard the wellbeing of our world and its inhabitants.
Through the End Plastic Pollution International Collaborative (EPPIC) initiative, the State Department is also acting immediately and directly to reduce plastic pollution.
EPPIC is a global public-private partnership that unites businesses, governments, and civil society to drive innovation, leverage resources, and implement projects and policy efforts.Plastic pollution disproportionately impacts vulnerable groups and exacerbates problems with food safety, water quality, and public health. On this Earth Day, let’s reaffirm our determination to combat plastic pollution and pave the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future.
