As an integral part of our daily lives due to its affordability and durability, it has become a major concern associated with climate change. The accumulation of plastic objects in the environment adversely affects wildlife, habitats and humans. This chapter discusses the pressing issue of plastic pollution and its consequences on our climate and marine ecosystems, highlighting global efforts such as the Green Deal in Europe and the United Nations' initiative for a global treaty on plastic waste.
Since the late 20th century, we have depended on plastic as an affordable, versatile and durable material. However, the majority of plastic materials take centuries to degrade and yet we’re still producing and consuming more of it. That plastic has to go somewhere, and it’s frequently either dumped carelessly on land or in rivers in developing countries, before ending up in the ocean. The fact is that we simply can’t cope with this amount of plastic on our planet — nor the amount that continues to be produced.
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