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Canada pledges to reduce plastic pollution and protect the oceans

February 11, 2022

While attending the One Ocean Summit in France last week, the Prime Minister of Canada announced the country’s participation in global initiatives and partnerships to reduce plastic pollution and protect the oceans.

With the world’s longest coastline and one-quarter of global freshwater reserves, Canada has undertaken the first steps to protect its waters and set an example for other countries.

Canada has committed to three global initiatives in partnership with others to reduce plastic pollution and advance the protection of marine biodiversity. The first involves joining the High Ambition Coalition on Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. Canada has also joined more than 500 businesses and governments in the global New Plastics Economy Commitment. The third commitment involves the country’s support for the development of a new ambitious, legally binding global agreement on plastics at the United Nations.

These latter commitments are in addition to the steps Canada is already taking to eliminate plastic waste, such as banning harmful single-use plastics, having specific requirements for recyclable materials, and working with the country’s provinces to hold plastic producers accountable for their waste.