• Sustainability

New WWF Report Shines a Light on Getting Rid of Ghost Gear

• #30x30
• Conservation Law Foundation
• fishing gear
• ghost gear
• IFAW
• North Atlantic Right Whale
• plastic pollution
• vaquita
• whale
• World Wildlife Fund

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) issued a new report yesterday illuminating the devastating impact of derelict or abandoned fishing gear in the ocean (aka “ghost gear”), and the numbers are terrifying — between 500,000 and 1,000,000 tons of ghost gear wind up in the ocean EACH YEAR!

Why This Matters:  While fishing gear that is in use is a threat to marine life like whales, abandoned fishing gear is just a tragedy waiting to happen and completely needless — eliminating it is totally within our control.

• Sustainability

The Call for a Global Treaty to Address Plastic Waste Grows Stronger

• Canada
• plastic pollution
• single use plastics
• WWF

As nations across the world work to address the plastic pollution crisis–especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic–Canada made a big step in its effort to control needless plastic waste. As CNN reported, “The country plans to ban single-use plastics — checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings, cutlery and even foodware made from […]

• Sustainability

COVID-19 Brings Clothes Recycling to a Halt

• COVID-19
• fast fashion
• recycling
• used clothes

The second-hand clothes trade ensures that abandoned clothes don’t pile up in landfills, and at the same time, makes it possible for the fashion industry to introduce new designs for each new season. However, Reuters reports that this system has slowed to a stop as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why this matters:  The fashion industry is the second-biggest consumer of water and is responsible for up to 10% of global carbon emissions.