To the Deputies and Bishops of The Episcopal Church assembled at the 81st General Convention:

We believe that “The earth is the LORD’S and all that is in it, the world and all who dwell therein.”  (Psalm 24) 

Plastics damage our environment, oceans, animals, and human health. They are devastating not only to our ecosystems and biodiversity, but also to our human bodies – microplastics are found everywhere, even in the water we drink. Plastic is particularly damaging for people living in poverty, and we should continue to reduce production and accelerate a just transition away from single-use and harmful plastics.

For decades we have urged the Church to:

• Protect the Earth and Oppose Environmental Threats  (1973-B106) ;
• Affirm Environmental Responsibility and an Environmental Stewardship Team (1991-A195);

• Adopt Environmentally Sound Practices at Church Meetings (1994-A044);
• Reaffirm Resolution on Environmentally Sound Behavior (1997-A041);
• Restrict Use of Bottled Water and Practice Conservation (2009-A045);
• Ban the sale of bottled water at church events (2018-B025);

Now the United Nations is negotiating a treaty, the goal of which is to put a cap on the production of plastic (A “Paris Agreement” for plastic) as well as putting in regulations that get rid of toxic plastic and plastics which are prohibitively expensive to recycle. The Anglican Communion UN team has prepared a letter for national negotiators and Ministers of Environment, encouraging them ahead of upcoming UN negotiations on plastic production.

This memorial urges support for the United Nations Global Plastic Treaty, and urges individuals, parishes, and Church entities to eliminate single use plastics whenever possible. Concrete actions may include but are not limited to:   

• Use refillable water bottles instead of single-use plastic bottles.
• Use reusable coffee cups and shopping bags instead of single-use ones.
• Replace single-use plastic sandwich bags with reusable silicone bags and other durable containers.
• Choose products with less plastic packaging and support businesses that are working to reduce their plastic waste. Our consumer choices send a clear signal to businesses and can incentivize much bigger changes.
• Find action steps and inspiration from online resources such as the global movement PlasticFreeJuly. org

Shifting to a lower-plastic lifestyle can be intimidating since plastic is part of many aspects of our lives. But just as with any creation-friendly habit, we can take small steps that lead to bigger changes. Remember to focus on progress over perfection.

Respectfully submitted,

Kirsten Lee, Lay Deputy, Diocese of Kansas (on behalf of the Green Deputies Caucus of General Convention)

Endorsed by:

Barbie O. Bach, Diocese of New Jersey and Warren Wong, Diocese of California

Supported by: The Creation Care Caucus of General Convention

(DRAFT Rev. 4/10/2024.2 by EH)

LINKS

Adverse Effects of Micro- and Nanoplastics on Humans and the Environment

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10647433/

UN Negotiations on Plastic Production

https://www.unep.org/inc-plastic-pollution/session-4

Anglican Communion Letter

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vT5nOewbzT3hoReAFUidTj0euRy2Yhkq/view

Plastic Free July

https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/get-involved/