A Russian region, Sakhalin, has officially declared itself "carbon neutral," achieving its goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions after launching the initiative in 2022. This makes it the first region in Russia to reach this milestone, signaling progress in local climate efforts.

Editor’s Note: While global climate action often focuses on major economies, smaller regions like Sakhalin making strides toward carbon neutrality show that progress can happen at different scales. This could inspire other regions—especially in resource-heavy countries like Russia—to adopt similar goals, even if skepticism remains about the broader national commitment to sustainability.

A major UN summit in Geneva is bringing together 179 countries to negotiate a global treaty aimed at tackling plastic pollution. The talks are being compared to the Paris climate agreement, but for plastics. The urgency is clear: plastic waste isn’t just harming oceans and wildlife—it’s also infiltrating human bodies, with microplastics likely present in our lungs, blood, and livers, posing a serious but often overlooked health risk.

Editor’s Note: This story matters because plastic pollution isn’t just an environmental crisis—it’s a public health emergency. If the talks succeed, the treaty could set binding global rules to curb plastic production and waste, much like the Paris Agreement did for carbon emissions. If they fail, the problem will keep growing, with dire consequences for both ecosystems and human health.

A top marine pollution expert, Professor Richard Thompson, is urging UN delegates negotiating a global plastic pollution treaty in Geneva to push for a strong and ambitious agreement. He emphasizes the moral responsibility to act decisively now to protect future generations from the growing crisis of plastic waste.

Editor’s Note: Plastic pollution is a massive environmental threat, and this story highlights the urgency for global leaders to take meaningful action. If the treaty falls short, it could mean more irreversible damage to oceans and ecosystems—something future generations will have to deal with. This isn’t just policy talk; it’s about accountability for the planet’s future.

A massive replica of Rodin's famous sculpture "The Thinker" is being surrounded by plastic waste outside the UN headquarters as global leaders gather to negotiate the first-ever treaty on plastic pollution. The striking visual is meant to draw attention to the urgent crisis of plastic pollution and its long-term effects on human health and the environment.

Editor’s Note: This story matters because plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental challenges we face, and this art installation is a powerful way to remind world leaders—and the public—just how dire the situation has become. With the UN treaty talks underway, this could be a pivotal moment in shaping global policies to tackle the problem.

A new report in the Lancet warns that the world is facing a $1.5 trillion "plastics crisis," with health risks affecting people at every stage of life—from infancy to old age. Plastic production has skyrocketed over 200 times since 1950, and the entire lifecycle of plastics, from extraction to disposal, poses serious dangers to human and planetary health. Experts call it a "grave, growing, and under-recognized" threat, linking plastics to disease, death, and massive economic costs.

Editor’s Note: This isn't just about pollution—it's a full-blown health and economic emergency. Plastics are everywhere, and their hidden costs are hitting us harder than we realize, from toxic exposure to staggering financial burdens. The report underscores the urgent need for global action to curb plastic production and waste before the damage becomes irreversible.