May 4, 2026

expert reaction to study on airborne microplastics and nanoplastics and global warming

A study published in Nature Climate Change looks at global warming contributions from airborne microplastics. 

Dr Sam Harrison, Environmental Modeller, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), said:

“There is growing evidence that plastic pollution can exacerbate the impact of many planetary boundaries, including climate change, ocean acidification, altered biogeochemical flows and biosphere integrity. We know that plastic pollution causes microplastic and nanoplastic particles to be transported in our atmosphere, however there is still a lot of uncertainty around the distribution of these particles in the atmosphere and their impacts on atmospheric warming. This new publication offers supporting evidence that plastic particles present in the atmosphere can absorb light and so may lead to increased atmospheric warming, though we need more evidence before we can confidently conclude the impacts of plastics on climate change.”

Dr Eiko Nemitz, an environmental physicist at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), said:

“The paper highlights the interesting potential of micro- and nanoplastics exerting a warming effect in the atmosphere. However, the uncertainties of this effect are substantial, not only due to the variability of their optical properties, but also due to our limited understanding of their emissions and a lack of measurements to assess model predictions. This means that we need further research before we can confidently discuss the magnitude of the impact of micro- and nanoplastics on atmospheric warming.

“If substantiated by further work, micro- and nanoplastics should then be considered short-lived climate forcers like black carbon itself. This means their contribution to global warming could be reduced much more quickly through emission reductions than is the case for changes in emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, for example, which persist in the atmosphere for many, many years. Nevertheless, the benefit would be fast but limited and should not distract from the need to control emissions of the primary greenhouse gases.

Dr Jim Walker, Research Fellow in Aerosol Science at the University of Bristol, said:

“In this study, the researchers used laboratory measurements of the optical properties of microplastic particles (MPs) to estimate their potential impact on the global climate. Their findings suggest that this previously overlooked factor could contribute towards warming, though to a much lower extent than greenhouse gas emissions, with MP colour – rather than plastic type – emerging as an important factor.

“It is important to acknowledge the substantial uncertainties associated with these estimates, as is the case for aerosol impacts more broadly. However, these uncertainties underscore the importance of continued research in this area to better understand how human activities are influencing the Earth’s climate system.”

‘Atmospheric warming contributions from airborne microplastics and nanoplastics’ by Yu Liu et al. was published in Nature Climate Change at 16:00 UK time on Monday 4 May 2026. 

DOI: 10.1038/s41558-026-02620-1

Declared interests

Dr Eiko Nemitz: No interests to declare.

Dr Sam Harrison: I have received funding from industry, including the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) and BASF.

For all other experts, no response to our request for DOIs was received.