The world’s largest climate conference, COP30, began this week in Brazil — but without the United States in attendance. Some activists are relieved that President Trump sent no delegation this year, in no small part because the administration thwarted a United Nations “plastics treaty” back in August, which COP30 attendees can now relitigate in peace. But when these left-wing climate activists aren’t busy praising China — the world’s leading polluter — for its clean energy efforts, or bemoaning the loss of their ally against plastics, former President Joe Biden, they continue promoting a misguided global crackdown on single-use plastics. While COP30 is toothless on this issue, U.S. statehouses are not, and many are rushing to curtail businesses’ use of plastics that consumers prefer.
Illinois is currently considering a bill to ban foam takeout containers by 2030, and Connecticut is taking the climate activist agenda even further by weighing legislation that would also ban plastic utensils. Virginia recently implemented $50 per day fines for businesses not in compliance with their polystyrene foam ban, while Oregon, starting in 2027, will ban the distribution of all types of plastic bags at retail stores and force businesses to switch to recycled paper.
Comments