This year's World Environment Day focused on solutions to plastic pollution. Humanity produces more than 430 million tons of plastic each year, two-thirds of which end up in landfills. On CGTN's "World Insight with Tian Wei," Nicholas Institute expert Jackson Ewing and other panelists provided insights on how the global community can reduce plastic waste.

Nicholas Institute expert Rachel Karasik talked with Let Me Breathe about her work on global plastics policy; the Plastic Pollution Working Group as a central hub for Duke students, staff, and faculty; how stakeholders are tackling plastics; quick tips on how to reduce the use of plastic in daily life; and more.

An interdisciplinary group of 18 Duke students brought considerable and diverse skills to bolster the Nicholas Institute’s research, engagement and educational endeavors during the 2022–2023 academic year.

Governments and non-governmental stakeholders will meet in Paris starting on Friday for the second of five negotiating sessions on a treaty addressing the global plastic pollution crisis. Comments from Duke expert Rachel Karasik are available for use in media coverage.

Zoie Diana, a Duke Ph.D. student, spoke about her research into the harmful effects of plastics and the connections to public policy on the Policy 360 podcast, produced by Duke's Sanford School of Public Policy.

72% of Earth’s largest companies have pledged to reduce their plastic waste. A new study surveys what they’re doing (or not) to fulfill those promises.

While other states have also put forward proposals to get plastic pollution under control, Rachel Karasik told Grist that few are as comprehensive as two bills introduced in the New York state assembly this month.

The recently merged Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions and Duke University Energy Initiative benefited from the work of 55 dedicated student assistants during the 2021–2022 academic year.

The interdisciplinary crew of student assistants hailed from undergraduate and graduate degree programs across seven Duke schools. They brought diverse skillsets and perspectives to their roles, further developing their expertise by working on real-world projects advancing environmental progress.

Rachel Karasik spoke to Coastal Review about a new annual brief from the Nicholas Institute that suggests the introduction of policies to reduce plastic pollution slowed in 2020 with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study is the first in what researchers hope will be an annual series tracking global “trends and gaps” in government responses to plastic pollution, reported The Hill.