Microplastics have been detected across the world's oceans, soils, and atmosphere. A new study published in Nature Climate Change details how airborne microplastics may be contributing, albeit small, to our planet's warming.
Darker fragments take in heat, and while paler ones bounce sunlight back, the overall effect across all particle types tips toward warming — a conclusion that holds even accounting for how plastic discolors over time.
In terms of scale, the microplastics released globally in a single year produce a warming effect comparable to two hundred coal plants operating over that same period. This is a fraction of carbon dioxide's contribution, but it represents a factor that current climate models do not account for, and researchers suggest those models may need revision.
That said, the study is not definitive. Other scientists note that the evidence base is not yet strong enough to draw firm conclusions about plastic's role in driving climate change. Obviously further research is needed but it is perhaps yet another reason to reduce and avoid our plastic use.