Emerging Challenges from Plastics-Driven Climate Change

Abundant plastic waste is projected to exacerbate climate change due to the substantial greenhouse gas emissions generated throughout the plastic life cycle—including raw material extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal. As micro- and nanoplastics are increasingly detected across environmental compartments, they are contributing to significant ecological impacts, such as disrupting ecosystems and diminishing the ocean’s carbon sequestration capacity. Growing evidence has also intensified concerns about public health, as plastics-driven climate change and microplastic pollution facilitate the transport of contaminants, including emerging pollutants of concern such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This study aims to identify the key issues linking plastics-driven climate change to environmental and public health effects. The specific objectives are to: (a) review the role of microplastics (MPs) in influencing climate change; (b) examine how transformed plastic polymers interact with recalcitrant contaminants, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria and PFAS; and (c) propose remediation strategies and recommend future research directions to address the escalating challenges associated with increasing global plastic production. Additionally, the paper presents a recent case study on the influence of MPs on antibiotic resistance and discusses persistent challenges in mitigating emerging public health risks posed by microplastic (MP) pollution and associated contaminants.