The Bishop of Chester is calling on the Prime Minister to introduce legally binding targets to cut plastic pollution.
He’s joined other faith leaders, campaign groups, businesses, and academics in writing to Boris Johnson to ask for the measures to be included in the Environment Bill.
An amendment calling for legally binding plastics reduction targets to be included in the bill has been tabled by Conservative MP Chris Loder.
In their letter to Boris Johnson, the group says that while government initiatives - such as the ban on plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds – have had positive impacts, a more overarching approach is needed to deal with the problem.
In particular, the Prime Minister is being urged to ensure that long-term and interim targets for cutting plastic pollution are included in the government’s flagship Environment Bill, which is currently passing through Parliament.
Bishop Mark says: “We know that global warming, rising sea levels, and plastic pollution are all issues affecting our world; we hear about these things through the news all of the time. By putting targets in place, written in law, together we can really begin to achieve something and change the way we’re treating our planet. As Christians, we understand that life is a gift from God and to see his creation under threat should be a cause for sadness.”
The signatories to the letter include businesses such as Iceland and Neal’s Yard, a cross-party group of MPs, faith leaders, academics and organisations such as Friends of the Earth, the WI, Surfers against Sewage, Keep Britain Tidy, City to Sea and Tearfund.