VIDEO: Plastic & Climate Change
At a recent event hosted by Families for a Livable Climate, Beyond Plastics Speakers Bureau member, Youpa Stein, discussed the connection between plastic pollution and climate change. Her talk, “Plastic Life Cycle Pollution and Its Contribution to Climate Disruption: Why is it a problem, and what can we do about it?” addresses how the overproduction of single-use plastic is threatening human health, the climate, and the ecosystems that sustain life, as well as what we can do to be a part of the solution.
NOTES & ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
1. Get Connected
Subscribe to Families for a Livable Climate’s email list and/or sign up for an action team to learn about future events and get involved in climate action in Montana.
Sign up for Beyond Plastics’ email list and follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Connect with Zero Waste Missoula and Working Toward Plastic Free in Montana to learn about local initiatives to address plastic pollution and waste.
2. Get Active
Read and sign Families for a Livable Climate’s letter to NorthWestern Energy here.
Below are a couple actions you can take to end plastic pollution. Check out the Beyond Plastics website for more.
Contact all three of your members of Congress to urge them to co-sponsor the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2021 in one fell swoop at: https://bit.ly/CosponsorBFFPPA
Beyond Plastics’ report, The New Coal: Plastics and Climate Change includes information about plastic and climate disruption. It is important to work to block the petrochemical build out. You can take action here.
Find more actions on the Beyond Plastics Action Page.
3. Volunteer
Beyond Plastics is launching a network of local groups and affiliated organizations working to end plastic pollution. State and federal regulation is always modeled on what works at the local level, and on what people are demanding at home. Thus, we know that real change requires a grassroots movement in the form of local action nationwide.
There is a group of people working in Bozeman to form a Beyond Plastics Local or Affiliate group - contact Youpa to learn more, or click here to learn about launching a local affiliate group.
A note from Youpa:
I am putting my energy into building a coalition of individuals and organizations throughout the state who want to work on a statewide legislative action to reduce plastic pollution. Please email me if you wish to connect.
4. Learn more
Book recommendations:
Thicker Than Water by Eric Cirino
Countdown by Shanna H. Swan
The Rights of Nature by David R. Boyd
Podcast recommendations:
Throughline’s The Litter Myth
Planet Money’s So, Should We Recycle?
How to Save a Planet’s Recycling! Is it BS?
Questions? Please reach out to youpa.zwmt@gmail.com or to the Beyond Plastics National Organizing Director, Alexis Goldsmith, with questions, comments, ideas, or feedback.
Youpa Stein is a Montana-based visual artist and concerned citizen who dedicates her art and advocacy work to the service of the care of the Earth. She focuses on raising awareness and finding solutions for plastic pollution by giving talks, writing, creating art, and pushing for legislation to help counter the health and environmental justice issues related to plastic. More about Youpa here.
Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project whose mission is to end plastic pollution by being a catalyst for change at every level of our society.