US billionaire, Michael Bloomberg has declared war against plastic.
The American billionaire announced a new $85 million dollar campaign in support of grassroots opposition to the petrochemical industry in the U.S.
Michael Bloomberg’s environmental fight is targeted at plastic producers in America.
The billionaire announced on Wednesday that he will launch a new $85 million campaign to suppress the expansion of America’s petrochemical industry.
Read also: Global plastic doubled in two decades- Global Plastics Outlook
The “Beyond Petrochemicals” as he calls the plastic fight will focus on three regions of the country.
The three regions include Louisiana, Texas and the Ohio River Valley.
These regions have been particularly hit in recent years by new petrochemical plant set ups and planned expansions.
The budgeted money will help community-based groups fight against over 120 projects across these three regions.
The initiative will also advocate for stricter rules and regulations around the industry, the campaign said in a press release.
Michael Bloomberg said several communities in the country are prepared to protect and defend their air and clean water sources.
“Communities around the country are standing up to confront the petrochemical industry and defend their rights to clean air and water. This campaign will help ensure more local victories, support laws that protect communities from harm, and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are fueling the climate crisis”, said Michael Bloomberg.
The petrochemical industry relies on oil and gas as its primary resources for plastics products.
The industry has become a new leading edge for fossil fuel companies searching for new markets for their products.
The world’s upsurge of plastic use is expected to drive half of all demand for fossil fuels by 2050.
The petrochemical industry has been aggressive in expansion especially in colored and lower-income communities, who are directly exposed to the pollution and waste that come with these facilities.
Anne Rolfes, the executive director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade described the move as “good news for the Gulf.
“It’s good news for the Gulf. The Bloomberg money will add crucial support to strengthen and grow our work. We need it now more than ever. It’s past time to transition, and Bloomberg support to the Gulf will help us achieve that goal,” Anne Rolfes, affirmed.
The Louisiana Bucket Brigade works to protect fenceline communities from the oil, gas, and chemical industries
Grassroots campaign against the petrochemical industry in the named regions has seen some successes in recent weeks.
Many environmental activists see Bloomberg’s money as huge in the climate community and are optimistic that the investment can mark a shift in attention from mainstream activists to a new issue of community-based fight against plastics.
In 2019, Bloomberg Philanthropies launched a larger campaign called “Beyond Carbon”.
The campaign aimed at transition toward clean energy sources as alternatives from coal and gas.
Again in 2011, Michael Bloomberg launched the Beyond Coal campaign with the Sierra Club which helped retire 60% of the U.S.’s remaining coal plants as of 2020.
