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.