Kathmandu: The world is grappling with a profound governance paradox. While regional bodies are strengthening their resolve to address localized ecological threats, global efforts to forge legally binding accords on planetary crises are stalling amid political deadlock. This stark contrast was highlighted this week in two significant developments: the gridlock at international plastics treaty negotiations in Geneva and a unified call for regional cooperation from parliamentarians of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region.

After three years of deliberation, negotiations for a landmark international treaty on plastic pollution concluded in Geneva without a final agreement. The primary point of contention, which has now reached a critical impasse, is whether the treaty should impose legally binding limits on plastic production. This has pitted a coalition of over 100 nations, known as the “High Ambition Coalition,” against a powerful bloc of fossil fuel-producing countries led by Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The former argues that controlling the source—production—is the only viable path to ending the crisis, while the latter insists the focus should remain on improving recycling and waste management. Representatives expressed deep frustration, with one stating that the most recent draft text was a “mockery,” demonstrating a surrender of ambition.

Meanwhile, in a display of regional solidarity, parliamentarians from eight nations across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region—dubbed the “Third Pole” for its vast ice and snow reserves—convened in Kathmandu. The two-day meet concluded with a joint declaration to deepen cooperation on shared transboundary issues, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and air pollution.

The participants acknowledged the region’s immense importance as the source of water for nearly two billion people and recognized the need for a collaborative approach to build climate resilience. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) highlighted the staggering financial need of approximately $740 billion annually for both climate adaptation and mitigation in the region, emphasizing the necessity of targeted investments and collective action.

The disparate outcomes in Geneva and Kathmandu underscore a fundamental challenge in contemporary global governance. While the HKH meeting demonstrated a shared political will to address a common ecological fate, the plastics talks revealed how powerful national economic interests can obstruct urgent planetary action. The ongoing debates, whether on a global or regional scale, all point to the same conclusion: scientific consensus must be met with resolute political commitment to overcome the collective action problem.

The greatest challenges to our planet are no longer scientific, but political.