It’s easy to get swept up in the energy of global ocean summits like UNOC3, which just happened last month. It’s exciting to hear world leaders say the right things about protecting our oceans. But words aren’t action—and the gap between the two is getting harder to ignore. Too many promises are voluntary, vague, or recycled from years past. Too many “protected areas” exist only on paper. And while some governments call for deep-sea mining bans, they still allow bottom trawling in their own protected waters. Maybe it’s time to be honest about what these global meetings are meant to accomplish—and what’s actually happening. These events matter, and they do help drive progress. But we can’t ignore the patterns we keep seeing. If we want real change, we need to start talking openly about the greenwashing, the echo chambers, and the lack of accountability. Read more of our thoughts and criticisms on UNOC3 and meetings like it in Ripple Effect, with katiecouricmedia—link in bio. Photos ...