A Wilmington-area community action group intends to “shine a spotlight on business-related human rights abuses associated with PFAS contamination in North Carolina” this week at the United Nations headquarters in New York City.
Clean Cape Fear cofounders Emily Donovan and Jessica Cannon intend to “urge global action and polluter accountability in order to address one of the most devastating environmental and public health crises of our lifetime,” the nonprofit announced Monday.
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Clean Cape Fear was established in 2017 after learning contaminants called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, were being released upstream by a chemical company near Fayetteville into the Cape Fear River, a drinking water source for hundreds of thousands of residents in New Hanover and Brunswick counties. Studies suggest that the chemicals are linked to adverse human health effects.
Donovan is scheduled to speak at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday during an event hosted by Mary Lawlor, UN special rapporteur and author of a new report on the contributions of Human Rights Defenders to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The event will be livestreamed on WebTV.un.org.
“We’ve fought on every level, and know this isn’t just a local or national issue—PFAS contamination is a global public health crisis,” Donovan said in a statement. “We’re grateful UN human rights experts recognize our work and are elevating it. It’s time for polluters and governments alike to be held accountable for the toxic legacy they’ve left behind.”
