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Interlinked Environmental Challenges: Climate Change, Urban Heat, and Plastic Pollution
Summary
This review pulls together existing research showing how climate change, city growth, and plastic pollution feed into each other—hotter cities produce more waste and emissions, while plastic breaks down into microplastics that contaminate our food, water, and air. These interconnected problems threaten food security and public health, which is why the researchers argue we need smarter city planning, better waste management, and stronger environmental policies rather than tackling each issue separately.
Climate change, urbanization, and plastic pollution are interconnected challenges significantly affecting ecosystems, biodiversity, and human health. Urban growth and industrialization have led to rising land surface temperatures, environmental degradation, inefficient waste management, and increased greenhouse gases. Excessive plastic production and improper disposal cause pollution in land and water, while plastics emit greenhouse gases throughout their lifecycle and break down into microplastics that threaten marine life, biodiversity, and food security. Climate change intensifies these issues through rising temperatures, flooding, sea-level rise, and extreme weather. This review examines the relationships among these factors based on recent studies. Findings highlight the importance of sustainable urban planning, efficient waste management, recycling, green infrastructure, and environmentally friendly policies to support sustainable development and reduce impacts.