Emerging Challenges from Plastics-Driven Climate Change and Microplastics

Greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastic production and disposal span the entire plastic life cycle, establishing a direct link between plastic pollution and climate change. This review demonstrates that micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) also function as active components of climate feedback systems by disrupting marine trophic structures, altering microbial assemblages, and diminishing the ocean’s capacity for carbon storage. Synthesized evidence further indicates that environmental degradation of polymers enhances surface reactivity, facilitating the sorption and transport of persistent contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). These interactions amplify combined risks to ecosystems and public health under climate change scenarios. This review also reveals that many existing remediation strategies prioritize waste reduction or physical removal while failing to account for contaminant–plastic–climate interactions, thereby limiting their long-term effectiveness. By integrating climate-related processes, polymer transformation, and contaminant dynamics, this review identifies critical knowledge gaps and underscores the need for mitigation strategies that jointly address plastic pollution, climate feedbacks, and emerging public health threats.