Aquariums and Zoos Applaud White House Commitment to Tackle the Plastic Pollution Crisis
Washington, D.C. - Friday, July 19, 2024 - Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP) members and the nations’ leading zoos and aquariums applaud today’s commitment by the Biden-Harris Administration to ambitious actions throughout the full lifecycle of plastics to end plastic pollution. We celebrate today’s release by the White House of the Mobilizing Federal Action on Plastic Pollution: Progress, Principles, and Priorities report and announcement of a new goal to phase out federal procurement of single-use plastics from food service operations, events, and packaging by 2027, and from all federal operations by 2035.
We thank the Administration for recognizing the significant breadth and scale of the impact of plastic pollution on our communities, ocean and freshwater environments and wildlife, climate, and public health and, in response, catalyzing a whole-of-government strategy and detailed road map for federal action ahead. Today, the United States has seized upon a renewed leadership role in addressing the plastic pollution crisis.
Research shows that most Americans are concerned about plastic pollution and support national and international policies to address it. Our nation generates more plastic waste than any other country in the world, per capita as well as by total mass. The actions described in this report represent the Administration’s commitment to address plastic pollution throughout the lifecycle of plastic and sets a foundation for federal agencies to take action in the U.S.
In the report, the federal government formally acknowledges, for the first time, the severity of the plastic pollution crisis and the scale of response needed to address it. There is recognition of the extensive evidence of the harm of plastic pollution, and explicit connections are made between tackling plastic as an environmental justice, human health, and climate change issue as well as an environmental one. We are pleased the strategy identifies the unprecedented action and changes that are possible and needed across the federal government to address plastic pollution at every stage of the plastic lifecycle, including by limiting the production and consumption of virgin single-use plastic. The strategy creates a strong guiding approach for all branches of the federal government and calls on the global community to also commit to ambitious actions to end plastic pollution.
Our aquariums take action every day to reduce the sources of plastic pollution that are harming our ocean and freshwater environments and our communities. In addition to educating millions on the impacts of plastic pollution and urging stronger plastic reduction policies and laws at the local, state, federal, and global level, our aquariums and zoos have significantly reduced single-use plastics in our cafés and operations. As such, we also wholeheartedly support the administration’s new goal to phase out single-use plastics.
We hope today’s call by the Biden-Harris administration for further action by the global community will help drive positive change for wildlife, ecosystems, and people worldwide. We encourage the United States to confirm its leadership in the fight against the global challenge of plastic pollution by advocating for a strong and ambitious Global Plastic Treaty this year. Finally, we urge all federal leaders to continue to use all available tools and authorities to continue to develop effective actions to achieve the goals outlined in the report.
Today’s announcement sets a path forward to tackle plastic pollution. It is a welcome turning point in how the U.S. government can lead for a healthier future for all. Our aquariums and zoos stand ready to work with the federal government and beyond to achieve these ambitious goals to end plastic pollution.
——
Peter Kareiva, President and CEO, Aquarium of the Pacific
Crislyn McKerron, Executive Director, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Thomas Schmid, CEO, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Roger Germann, President and CEO, The Florida Aquarium
Sean den Bok, Chief of Education and Engagement, Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Rebecca Dewitz, President and CEO, Great Plains Zoo
Sean Putney, President and CEO, Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium
Jason M. Patlis, President and CEO, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
Julie Packard, Executive Director, Monterey Bay Aquarium
Susette Tibus, President and CEO, Mystic Aquarium
John Racanelli, President and CEO, National Aquarium
Kurt Strand, President & CEO, National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
Dr. Luis Padilla, President and CEO, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
Alan Varsik, Director, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
Robert W. Davidson, President and CEO, Seattle Aquarium
Dr. Bridget Coughlin, President and CEO, Shedd Aquarium
Kevin Mills, President and CEO, South Carolina Aquarium
Bart Shephard, Senior Director, Steinhart Aquarium
Keith Sanford, President and CEO, Tennessee Aquarium
Cynthia W. Spanoulis, President and CEO, Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center
Vikki Spruill, President and CEO, New England Aquarium