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Mechanisms underpinning microplastic effects on the natural climate solutions of wetland ecosystems
Summary
Microplastics are entering wetlands worldwide and disrupting the plants and microbes that make wetlands powerful carbon sinks, potentially turning these ecosystems from carbon absorbers into greenhouse gas emitters. This review maps the mechanisms by which microplastics interfere with wetland carbon storage and calls for this threat to be factored into global climate commitments like the Paris Agreement's net-zero targets. The findings are a warning that plastic pollution could quietly undermine one of nature's most important tools for fighting climate change.
Wetland ecosystems are vital carbon dioxide (CO2) sinks, offering significant nature-based solutions for global climate mitigation. However, the recent influx of microplastic (MP) into wetlands substantially impacts key drivers (e.g., plants and microorganisms) underpinning these wetland functions. While MP-induced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization potentially threaten the long-term wetland C-climate feedbacks, the exact mechanisms and linkage are unclear. This review provides a conceptual framework to elaborate on the interplay between MPs, wetland ecosystems, and the atmospheric milieu. We also summarize published studies that validate possible MP impacts on natural climate solutions of wetlands, as well as provide extensive elaboration on underlying mechanisms. We briefly highlight the relationships between MP influx, wetland degradation, and climate change and conclude by identifying key gaps for future research priorities. Globally, plastic production, MP entry into aquatic systems, and wetland degradation-related emissions are predicted to increase. This means that MP-related emissions and wetland-climate feedback should be addressed in the context of the UN Paris Climate Agreement on net-zero emissions by 2050. This overview serves as a wake-up call on the alarming impacts of MPs on wetland ecosystems and urges a global reconsideration of nature-based solutions in the context of climate mitigation.