Clock ticks as plastic talks drag on

This week in Geneva, negotiators from around the world are gathered for the fifth session of the Global Plastics Treaty — known as INC 5.2. It is an intergovernmental process aimed at finding solutions to the plastic pollution crisis. Yet, more than a week in, progress toward a strong and binding agreement remains painfully slow. As the clock ticks, our window to act is rapidly closing.

- Pichmol Rugrod

Plastic pollution is not just a waste problem. It is also a climate problem. Over 99% of plastics are made from fossil fuels, tying the plastics crisis directly to the petrochemical industry. As the planet burns and natural resources are being extracted beyond recovery, this treaty, once a symbol of hope, is at risk of becoming just another diplomatic gesture. Here in Geneva, the pattern is familiar: compromise over courage, delay over decisive action.

The treaty still avoids the one truth the world needs to hear: stop overproducing plastic.