U.S. Authorities and Considerations for the Global Plastics Agreement
Author
Cecilia Diedrich
Therese Wilkerson
Date Released
October 2024
U.S. Authorities and Considerations for the Global Plastics Agreement

As a supplement to our report, Existing U.S. Federal Authorities to Address Plastic Pollution: A Synopsis for Decision Makers, this report offers a concise review of the instruments through which the United States can negotiate and conclude international agreements. The report then describes how existing U.S.

Plastics

Plastic use is ubiquitous in modern life, but so is the associated pollutionwhich impact human health, the environment, climate change, and more. ELI is working to address these problems by identifying actionable law and policy tools that can be used to regulate plastic at every stage of its life cycle and convening stakeholders to prioritize and advance these solutions.

Report Highlights: Existing U.S. Federal Authorities to Address Plastic Pollution
Author
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Environmental Law Institute
Date Released
March 2024
Cover page of report featuring an underwater photo with plastic pollution on the surface. Report is titled "Existing U.S. Federal Authorities to Address Plastic Pollution: A Synopsis for Decision Makers."

This brief summarizes Existing U.S. Federal Authorities to Address Plastic Pollution: A Synopsis for Decision Makers, a report which identifies federal authorities—spanning executive orders, legislation, regulations, and associated programs—that can be used to address plastic pollution through interventions identified across the plastic life cycle. 

Existing U.S. Federal Authorities to Address Plastic Pollution: A Synopsis for Decision Makers
Author
Margaret Spring
Cecilia Diedrich
Therese Wilkerson
Jack Schnettler
Date Released
October 2024
Cover Page - October 2024 Update

The report provides a comprehensive overview of the existing legal authorities the U.S. federal government can leverage to achieve the national goal of eliminating plastic release into the environment by 2040 while safeguarding human health and the environment. Building on the legal framework established by a Congressionally-mandated report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, the report categorizes federal authorities—spanning executive orders, legislation, regulations, and associated programs—into specific "intervention areas" across the plastic life cycle.