What is the UN climate summit COP30?

COP30 is the annual United Nations climate change conference, where nations gather to discuss and take action on addressing the global climate crisis.

How much plastic pollution enters the Great Lakes each year in Wisconsin?

A 2016 study found that more than 22 million pounds of plastic enter the Great Lakes each year, with half of that ending up in Lake Michigan.

What is Plastic-Free MKE doing to reduce plastic waste in Milwaukee?

Plastic-Free MKE is a grassroots initiative working to eliminate single-use plastics in Milwaukee, such as through their Lake-Friendly Business Program that helps local businesses transition to sustainable alternatives.

Home / Environment / Wisconsin Residents Demand Action on Plastic Waste as COP30 Convenes

Wisconsin Residents Demand Action on Plastic Waste as COP30 Convenes

17 Nov

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Summary

Nations gather for UN climate summit COP30 in Belém, Brazil
Plastic pollution a key focus, with 22 million pounds entering Great Lakes annually
Milwaukee initiatives like Boomerang Bags work to reduce single-use plastics

Wisconsin Residents Demand Action on Plastic Waste as COP30 Convenes

As the world's nations gather in Belém, Brazil, for the annual UN climate summit known as COP30, the issue of plastic pollution has emerged as a key focus of the discussions. This comes ten years after the Paris Agreement united more than 190 countries around shared climate goals, including the aim to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

While progress has been made in some areas of environmental protection, the World Health Organization has warned that climate change poses a "fundamental threat to human health," with rising respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, heat-related illnesses, and the spread of infectious diseases. Reducing plastic production and consumption is seen as a crucial step in addressing this crisis.