As the world fails on plastics, the Philippines must act

The world had a chance last week to take a major step toward solving the plastic pollution crisis—but failed. At the United Nations-led negotiations in Geneva for a global plastics treaty, nearly 200 countries could not agree on one of the most essential measures: a cap on plastic production.

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This failure sends a grim message. As the world produces over 400 million tons of plastic annually, with projections of a 70 percent increase by 2040, global inaction shifts the burden onto individual countries-especially those already overwhelmed by plastic waste. For the Philippines, which has long suffered from the dual threat of plastic pollution and flooding, this should be a wake-up call.

Now more than ever, local solutions must step up where international agreements have stumbled. One of those solutions could be the proposed Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Act, filed in 2023, which the Department of Energy (DOE) is pushing anew amid recent devastating floods across Metro Manila. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the bill-which has already passed the House and is awaiting Senate approval-could be a turning point, providing a regulatory framework for converting solid waste into energy.