Plastic pollution is changing the entire functioning of the Earth system –

Although plastic pollution is undoubtedly one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, the numbers still show that plastic production is increasing every year. Recent scientific research has highlighted that plastic pollution is fundamentally reshaping the processes of the Earth’s system: exacerbating climate change, reducing biodiversity, acidifying the oceans, and limiting freshwater and land use.

According to the researchers, plastic should be treated not only as a waste problem, but as a product that damages ecosystems and human health. The authors released the findings ahead of the start of negotiations in South Korea on a binding global convention to curb plastic pollution to raise awareness of the need for urgent action.

The establishment of the agreement is complicated by the question of whether the reduction of the production of the 712 billion dollar plastic manufacturing industry should also be included in the regulation – in the last negotiations, developed countries were accused of being reluctant to curb production. At the same time, the convention would be a significant step towards promoting the global treatment of plastic pollution.

The recent study highlighted the effects of plastics on the environment, health and human well-being, systematically reviewing the growing body of evidence. The authors highlighted that countries should take into account the entire life cycle of plastic – from raw material extraction, manufacturing and use, to release into the environment and impacts on the Earth system.

“We know that plastics are complex materials that enter the environment throughout their life cycle and cause damage to many systems. Solutions must be designed with this complexity in mind to provide a full spectrum of safety and sustainability to protect people and the planet.”

– said Professor Bethanie Carney Almroth, colleague of the University of Gothenburg and co-author of the research.