From Small Towns to a Global Treaty

"We'll never see that in our lifetime." You've probably heard it about the ocean. Andrew has heard it plenty, and admits he's said it too. For years it was the standard answer about protecting the high seas, the two-thirds of the ocean that lies beyond any country's borders. Then the High Seas Treaty was agreed, entered into force in January 2026, and passed 100 countries in September, Canada included. In this week's wrap-up, Andrew uses that win to show why a global plastics treaty can happen too, and how it gets built from the ground up. He walks through the ladder: a town like Tofino banning plastics one item at a time, the case that takes to the province, Canada's national single-use plastics ban and the court fight over it, and finally the global treaty talks, where more than 100 countries back cutting plastic production while a handful of oil producers and a crowd of industry lobbyists push back. You'll hear why the lobbyists showing up is a sign the treaty is a real threat to business as usual, what high-ambition countries could do if the UN process stalls, why community pride like the kind Andrew saw around Lake Superior is the energy this needs, and the one email you can send before the weekend. Links mentioned in this episode Surfrider Foundation Canada: Take action and email your MP: https://www.canada.surfrider.org/take-action Start or join a Surfrider Canada chapter or club: https://canada.surfrider.org/get-involved High Seas Alliance: High Seas Treaty passes 100 parties (September 2026): https://highseasalliance.org/2026/09/23/the-high-seas-treaty-reaches-100-parties-cementing-momentum-ahead-of-its-first-conference/ Geneva Environment Network: Global Plastics Treaty timeline and INC-5.4: https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/resources/updates/international-cooperation-on-plastic-pollution/ Monday's episode: Lilly Woodbury, Surfrider Foundation Canada: https://www.speakupforblue.com/show/speak-up-for-the-ocean-blue/podcast-243/ Tuesday's episode: Too Enthusiastic? Finding your place in ocean action: https://www.speakupforblue.com/show/speak-up-for-the-ocean-blue/podcast-244/ Wednesday's episode: The Beach That Doesn't Need Cleaning Anymore: https://www.speakupforblue.com/show/speak-up-for-the-ocean-blue/podcast-245/ [ADD LINK] Thursday's episode: The Straw Backlash: Why Guilt Doesn't Work: https://www.speakupforblue.com/show/speak-up-for-the-ocean-blue/podcast-246/ Takeaways "Not in our lifetime" was the answer on the high seas for years, until the High Seas Treaty became international law in 2026 Big agreements take patient, resilient people willing to compromise, and enough public push Local plastic bans become proof for provinces, provincial rules become proof for countries, and national bans build the case for a global treaty Canada's single-use plastics ban survived a Federal Court of Appeal challenge in January 2026; the Supreme Court will hear industry's appeal next More than 100 countries back a path to cutting plastic production; a