Plastic pollution and climate crisis ‘joint crisis’

Plastic pollution and the climate crisis are interconnected issues that worsen each other’s effects, creating a ‘joint crisis’ for marine ecosystems.

A study by Imperial College London has found that higher temperatures and UV light are accelerating the breakdown of plastic waste into microplastics, which are spreading more quickly in the environment.

Microplastic particles are accumulating in long-lived top predators like orcas.

Researchers found that rising water temperatures are causing fish and shellfish to absorb more microplastics, which are then transferred up the food chain to top predators like orcas. This double whammy—warming and plastic pollution—is having a devastating negative impact on the animals’ immune systems and reproductive health.

This discovery shows that our dependence on fossil fuels significantly contributes to both carbon emissions and plastic pollution. Scientists are advocating for a global agreement to ban single-use plastics and restrict the production of new plastic, aiming to lessen the environmental impact.