RELEASE: Rep. Hansen Joins World Environment Day Commitments to Beat Plastic Pollution

Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL – South St. Paul) joined a diverse group of government, business, and nonprofit leaders in New Orleans to celebrate World Environment Day on June 5^th. The event was hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) as part of this year’s “Beat Plastic Pollution” theme. UN Environment and the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators sponsored Rep. Hansen’s trip to New Orleans for the event.

 

The event program at the historic Carver Theater featured Rep. Hansen, Mississippi Rep. Abe Hudson, members of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative including Bemidji Mayor Rita Albrecht, and speakers from Dell, Hostels International, LifeCity, and No Waste LA.

 

“The commitment to Beat Plastic Pollution must be personal, public, and political,” said Rep. Hansen, encouraging audience members and program leaders to vote with their dollar by purchasing reusable products, use public dollars to incentivize and reward alternatives to single-use plastic, and engage the public in changing laws to implement that innovation.

 

Following the program, everyone participated in an urban cleanup alongside the North American Director of the UN Environment Programme Barbara Hendrie and Actor and UN Goodwill Ambassador Adrian Grenier.

 

"No matter how small your city or town is, we all must play our role in making the world a more environmentally friendly place," said Rep. Hudson.

 

“We are part of this planet. We do not have dominion over it,” said Rep. Hansen. “We have a responsibility to take care of it. We must live through stewardship.”

 

Rep. Hansen and Rep. Hudson are both members of NCEL’s Mississippi River Legislative Caucus and will share these commitments with their colleagues at the group’s September convening to facilitate a regional effort to reduce plastic waste.

 

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