A new study warns that microplastics are significantly reducing the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide, weakening a critical natural defense against the climate crisis. These tiny particles interfere with the “biological carbon pump” by harming phytoplankton and zooplankton, which are essential for transferring carbon to the deep ocean. Researchers found that microplastics also release greenhouse gases as they degrade and disrupt microbial communities that regulate ocean health. The study urges governments to treat plastic pollution and global warming as interconnected threats, calling for immediate reductions in single-use plastics to protect marine ecosystems.
Date: January 7, 2026. Source: independent.co