Petition to Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal  

We are all aware that climate change poses a major threat to our environment and society, with plastic production generating 1.8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, therefore, significantly contributing to global warming (United Nations Environment Program, 2023). As residents of the city of Montreal, we call upon you to take immediate action in reducing the environmental harm caused by single use plastics. Plastic pollution is a growing problem as it is filling our landfills, polluting our waterways, and harming wildlife. While some progress has been made, Montreal must take larger steps to change policies that promote the adoption of bioplastics and other sustainable packaging alternatives in local grocery stores, markets, workplaces, and educational institutions. Below is a short list of ways we think can help reduce the use of single use plastics: 
Encouraging & Supporting Businesses: provide tax discounts or grants to companies that switch to biodegradable or compostable packaging, making sustainable options more affordable and accessible. 
Raise Public Awareness: publish educational campaigns to inform residents about the environmental and health risks of plastic waste and promote the use of ecofriendly alternatives (Biodegradable, such as paper). 
Improve Waste Management: invest in better composting and recycling facilities to ensure that bioplastics and other sustainable materials are properly processed instead of ending up in landfills or being burned. 
Enforce Stronger Policies: Strengthen and expand municipal regulations to push people to stop using single use plastics, requiring not only businesses but people to adopt sustainable packaging wherever they can. 
Overall, by taking these actions, we can set a strong example for other cities in Canada when it comes to fighting plastic pollution. This will help reduce our dependence on single use plastics and show other cities that change is possible. A cleaner environment will benefit everyone by improving public health and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.