Plastics in blue carbon ecosystems: a call for global cooperation on climate change goals

Adyel, Tanveer M.; Macreadie, Peter I.

doi:10.1016/s2542-5196(21)00327-2

Cited by 22 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…There are similar challenges in marine sediments (Ford et al 2022), where plastics results in sediments having a diminished capacity to sequester carbon. This has been reported for mangroves in blue carbon ecosystems (Adyel and Macreadie 2022) Plastic pollution that exaggerates climate change through positive feedback loops also has the potential to occur in the atmosphere. Zhang, Kang and Gao 2022 found that airborne microplastics may cause positive feedback loops affecting solar radiation (Zhang, Kang and Gao 2022).…”

Section: Plastic Pollution In the Environmentmentioning

confidence: 63%

“…Approximately 50 ± 30 million tonnes and 110 ± 80 million tonnes of plastic may have been buried in the upper 20cm sediment layers (Smith 2012). Hence, any disturbance due to plastic in carbon capture ecosystems, including mangroves, could create a negative feedback loop that amplifies climate change (Adyel and Macreadie 2022). Moreover, sediment resuspension will continue to release greenhouse gas emissions from buried plastic for years to come.…”

Section: Plastic Pollution In the Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climate Impacts of Plastics: Global Actions to Stem Climate Change and End Plastic Pollution

Rucevska,

Skripnikova,

Thomassen

et al. 2024

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Science provides convincing evidence that greenhouse gas emissions generated across the plastics life cycle are estimated to be between 3.8 and 4.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is set to grow with a projected increase in primary plastic production. This report presents the synthesis of an extensive literature review of the plastics life cycle. It analyses the countries’ submissions to the UNFCCC, the Paris Agreement, and the Intergovernmental Committee on plastic pollution. It also suggests measures that co-benefit addressing plastic pollution and achieving the global climate goals. This report reveals critical gaps in the current reporting practice for accounting plastics impacts on climate under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement and points out the role of the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, (the instrument) in stemming climate change. The report argues that the development and the implementation of the plastics instrument provides a unique opportunity to strengthen global efforts in addressing climate change across the plastics life cycle, complementing the broader decarbonisation activities of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. To combat climate change alongside the plastics life cycle, the primary focus must be on reducing the production of plastics and focusing on low-carbon design as well as improving waste management and remediation. Additionally, the report draws attention to the lack of internationally agreed definitions used for the assessment of the impacts of plastics on climate, which would guide research, national reporting, and policy interventions in the future.

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Section: Plastic Pollution In the Environmentmentioning

confidence: 63%

Section: Plastic Pollution In the Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Impacts of Plastics: Global Actions to Stem Climate Change and End Plastic Pollution

Rucevska,

Skripnikova,

Thomassen

et al. 2024

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“…However, a significant amount of plastics produced in the world ends up as waste. Every year, approximately 80 million metric tons of plastic wastes are released into the environment, endangering both the ecosystem and human health [2,3]. The nondegradable nature of the polymers in the synthetic plastic have led to severe soil and water pollution, thus making plastic pollution a major global issue of concern [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimized Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) Production by Moderately Haloalkaliphilic Bacterium Halomonas alkalicola Ext

Muigano,

Anami,

Onguso

et al. 2024

International Journal of Polymer Science

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Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable and biocompatible polymers that are produced by microorganisms as storage materials under limited nutrition and excess carbon. These PHAs have been found to be ideal for replacing synthetic plastics for use in packaging and biomedical applications. In this study, an alkaliphilic and moderately halophilic bacterium Halomonas alkalicola Ext was isolated from Lake Simbi Nyaima in western Kenya and investigated for PHA production. Sudan Black B and Nile Red A staining showed that bacterium had distinct ability for accumulation of PHAs. To optimize PHA production, the bacterium was grown in submerged fermentation under varying culture conditions and different sources and concentrations of carbon and nitrogen. With one-factor-at-a-time (OFTA) approach, optimal PHA yields were obtained after 72 hours at a pH of 10.0, temperature of 35°C, and 2.5% (w/v) NaCl. The bacterium yielded the highest biomass, and PHA amounts on 2% galactose and 0.1% ammonium sulfate as sources of carbon and nitrogen, respectively. A record PHA yield of 0.071 g g-1 with a titer of 1.419±0.09 g/L was achieved from 3.397 g/L of biomass, equivalent to 41.8% PHA content. Using response surface methodology, PHA titer was increased by 1.5% to 1.44 g/L, while PHA content was improved 1.1-fold to 45.57%. Polymer analysis revealed that the extracted PHA was a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) (3−HB:3−HV=92:8) with two copolymer subunits of 3-hydroxyvaryrate (3-HB) and 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-HV). Halomonas alkalicola Ext attained efficient galactose conversion into PHBV under high salinity and alkalinity conditions.

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“…The concern likely stems from an overestimated role of the biological carbon export flux in moderating changes in atmospheric CO 2 (Courtene-Jones 2022; Kvale et al 2023). However, there also exist vague concerns that plastics are a novel source of organic carbon in ecosystems that could rival natural ones and therefore disrupt the ocean carbon cycle (e.g., Romera-Castillo et al 2018;Rillig et al 2021;Stubbins et al 2021;Adyel and Macreadie 2022). Climate impacts from such direct inputs have not been estimated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…After the discovery that marine plastic pollution is leaching carbon into the ocean, researchers expressed the need to better understand the impact that this additional source may be having on oceanic ecosystems. In particular, Adyel and Macreadie (2022) expressed concern that the uptake of anthropogenic atmospheric CO 2 within blue carbon ecosystems could be affected by carbon leaching from plastics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of plastic pollution on atmospheric carbon dioxide

Gurgacz,

Kvale,

Eby

et al. 2023

FACETS

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Since the beginning of its large-scale production in the early 20th century, plastics have remained an important material in widespread use throughout modern society. Nevertheless, despite possessing many benefits, plastics are resistant to degradation and instead accumulate in the ocean and terrestrial sediments, thereby potentially affecting marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Plastics release CO2 throughout their entire lifecycle; during the extraction of materials used in their production, through plastic–carbon leaching in the marine and terrestrial environment, and during their different end-of-life scenarios, which include recycling, landfill, and incineration. Here, we use the University of Victoria earth system climate model to quantity the effects on atmospheric CO2 and the ocean carbon cycle by using upper-bound estimates of carbon emissions from marine plastic–carbon leaching or land-based incineration. Despite the suggestions of some, our results indicate that it has only a very minor influence and an insignificant effect on the earth's global climate system. This holds even if plastic contamination increases well beyond current levels. On the other hand, carbon emissions associated with plastic production and incineration have a greater impact on climate while still dwarfed by emissions associated with the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) and other anthropogenic sources. Our results have important policy implications for ongoing United Nations Environment Programme Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution negotiations.

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Plastics in blue carbon ecosystems: a call for global cooperation on climate change goals

Cited by 22 publications

References 10 publications

Climate Impacts of Plastics: Global Actions to Stem Climate Change and End Plastic Pollution

Climate Impacts of Plastics: Global Actions to Stem Climate Change and End Plastic Pollution

Optimized Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) Production by Moderately Haloalkaliphilic Bacterium Halomonas alkalicola Ext

Impact of plastic pollution on atmospheric carbon dioxide

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