https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/plastic-pollution
Learn how plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, affecting wildlife, human health, and the planet. Find out how plastics are produced, transported, broken down, and what can be done to stop it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_pollution
Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles (e.g. plastic bottles, bags and microbeads) in the Earth's environment that adversely affects humans, wildlife and their habitat. [1] [2] Plastics that act as pollutants are categorized by size into micro-, meso-, or macro debris. [3] Plastics are inexpensive and durable

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/everything-you-need-know-about-plastic-pollution
Learn about the causes, impacts and solutions of the plastic pollution crisis, which affects wildlife, climate and human health. Find out how to reduce your plastic footprint and support global action on World Environment Day 2023.

https://www.epa.gov/plastics/impacts-plastic-pollution
Learn how plastic pollution harms the environment and human health, from marine species to greenhouse gas emissions. Find out how microplastics and nanoplastics affect ecosystems and human bodies.

https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution
Explore data and visualizations on plastic production, waste, and environmental impacts. Learn how plastic pollution affects wildlife, ecosystems, and human health, and what solutions are needed to tackle this global challenge.

https://www.britannica.com/science/plastic-pollution
Plastic pollution, harmful accumulation of synthetic plastic products in the environment. Plastics are persistent large-scale pollutants, and plastic debris (such as bottles, straws, containers, and plastic wrap) and particulates have been found in many environmental niches, from Mount Everest to the bottom of the sea.

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/worlds-plastic-pollution-crisis-explained/
Learn how plastic production and disposal have created a global environmental problem, harming wildlife and humans. Find out what can be done to reduce plastic waste and prevent it from entering the oceans and the food chain.

https://www.unep.org/plastic-pollution
Learn how plastic pollution affects aquatic ecosystems, human health and livelihoods, and what UNEP is doing to tackle this global challenge. Find out about upcoming events and initiatives to beat plastic pollution in 2024.

https://www.iucn.org/story/202207/plastic-pollution-crisis
Learn how plastic waste enters the ocean and harms marine life and human health, and what actions are needed to tackle the issue. Explore the data, methods and tools developed by IUCN and its partners to monitor and address plastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea.

https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2023/08/explainer-what-is-plastic-pollution/
Learn about the causes, impacts and solutions of plastic pollution, a global crisis that affects marine ecosystems, human health and the environment. Find out how the UN is working to establish a legally binding instrument and promote market shifts to reduce plastic waste.

https://www.unep.org/interactive/beat-plastic-pollution/
Learn how plastic production, consumption and disposal are harming our planet and its wildlife. Explore the interactive map of plastic emissions from rivers and the ocean, and the solutions to stop the flow of plastic waste.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/plastics-facts-infographics-ocean-pollution
Learn eight essential facts about the global plastic crisis, such as how much plastic is produced, used, and discarded every year, and where it ends up. See infographics and sources for more details and solutions.

https://unfoundation.org/blog/post/protect-our-planet-from-plastic-pollution-5-things-to-know/
Learn why plastic is everywhere, harmful, and urgent to reduce, reuse, recycle, and reorient. The UN Environment Programme offers a plan to cut plastic waste by 80% by 2040 and highlights solutions from communities and organizations.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/plastic-pollution-huge-problem-not-too-late-to-fix-it
Two independent research teams project that plastic waste in the oceans will reach 22 to 58 million tons by 2030, unless production and consumption are reduced. They call for a fundamental change in how plastics are made, used, and discarded, and warn of the threat to marine life and ecosystems.

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/topics/resource-library-plastic-pollution/
Plastic Pollution. Plastic Pollution. Plastic is ubiquitous in our everyday lives. Some plastics we can reuse or recycle—and many play important roles in areas like medicine and public safety—but other items, such as straws, are designed for only one use. In fact, more than 40 percent of plastic is used only once before it is thrown away

https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-brief/plastic-pollution
Plastic pollution affects all land, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. It is a major driver of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation and contributes to climate change. As plastic pollution is a transboundary issue, a global plastics treaty is needed to ambitiously reduce plastic production, phase out harmful subsidies, eliminate products

https://www.state.gov/key-topics-office-of-environmental-quality-and-transboundary-issues/plastic-pollution/
Plastic pollution is a global problem that affects our natural world and its biodiversity. It impacts our environment, health, food security, and economies. An estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic enters the ocean each year. Often stemming from poor waste mismanagement, plastic pollution is a major environmental issue because most

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/world-nations-agree-to-fix-the-plastic-waste-crisis
The UN Environment Assembly voted to move forward on a legally binding agreement to curb plastic pollution, which is forecast to triple by 2040. The treaty would address the entire plastic lifecycle, from production to disposal, and involve all stakeholders, including industry and civil society.

https://www.iucn.org/sites/default/files/2024-05/plastic-pollution-issues-brief-may-2024-update.pdf
• Plastic pollution affects all land, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. It is a major driver of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation and contributes to climate change. • As plastic pollution is a transboundary issue, a global plastics treaty is needed to ambitiously reduce

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abg5433
Obvious plastic pollution occurs where humans directly litter, such as roadsides, beaches, river banks, and urban estuaries. This type of plastic pollution is, in principle, readily reversible at the local scale because it can be physically removed by cleanups, and because littering can be curtailed through public campaigns and with improved waste collection infrastructure.

https://ourworldindata.org/ocean-plastics
Learn about the latest research on global riverine plastics and the factors that affect their transport to the ocean. Find out which countries and rivers emit the most plastic and what solutions are needed to tackle plastic pollution.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/us-plastic-pollution
A new study challenges the narrative that Asia is the main source of plastic pollution in the oceans and reveals the U.S. as the world's largest producer and exporter of plastic waste. The research also highlights the lack of recycling and the environmental impacts of plastic consumption in the U.S.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/slideshow/plastic-facts
World plastic production has increased exponentially from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 162 million in 1993 to 448 million by 2015. By 2050, virtually every seabird species on the planet will be