The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change:

Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to recognize that April 22 was Earth Day.

This year’s theme was Planet vs. Plastics.

Plastic pollution continues to pose a critical threat to our ecosystems, human health and our planet.

This week, officials from Newfoundland and Labrador are participating in the fourth meeting of the United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Ottawa, working toward a first-of-its-kind global agreement on plastic pollution by the end of next year.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, our government has been proactive in our commitment towards preserving our environment.

Last year, 180 million beverage containers were diverted from landfills through recycling programs in the province.

Our government will continue to advance sustainable waste management through a range of initiatives. I encourage everyone to find more ways to recycle plastics and reduce consumption in our homes and daily lives.

No action is ever too little.

Thank you.