Plastic pollution has become a global crisis, affecting everything from oceans and wildlife to human health. A new global plastics treaty could help countries work together to reduce waste and change how plastic is made, used, and managed.

deep-sea mining is sparking a high-stakes global debate over how to secure critical minerals without putting fragile ocean ecosystems at risk. As demand for clean-energy technologies grows, the question is whether the seafloor is a smart new resource—or a frontier we should leave untouched.