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It seems to me that both issues are very frightening and deserve our attention. Climate change is fucking up the systems we humans and many other animals rely o

It seems to me that both issues are very frightening and deserve our attention. Climate change is fucking up the systems we humans and many other animals rely on, which will kill off many species although as a species we will likely survive. But plastics pollution seems to be literally poisoning every possible corner of the ecosystem, which might be a greater hazard to humans in the long run. Regarding plastics, it could be a solution to put a very hefty tax on plastic, that's partially refundable if you return it to recycling/proper disposal. This might reduce the incentives to produce single-use items out of plastic, but would not ban it (because for some use cases plastics is perhaps the only viable option, not just the cheapest).

mrob 7y ago
I think the biggest threat of plastics pollution is loss of our ability to use plastics as a long-term building/manufacturing material. Very few microbes can metabolize plastics now, but not zero, and the ability will only spread as plastics (and especially high surface-area to volume ratio microplastics) become more common in the wild. Microbes evolve fast, and they have access to horizontal gene transfer. Heavily fluorinated plastics might survive but I expect all cheap plastics will end up easily biodegradable. It's potentially a major inconvenience, but if we pretend it's as big a threat as CO2 pollution then civilization will have collapsed before it happens, so that's one way to avoid the problem.
- Merrill 7y ago
  "Mutant 59: The Plastic Eater" - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081RLFEY/ref=dp-kindle-redirect https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081RLFEY/ref=dp-kindle-redirect Science fiction from 1971. The main effect hypothesized was the disintegration of electrical insulation, which destroyed power distribution, communications, and electronics.
- hinkley 7y ago
  But if the food web collapses it won’t matter how much carbon dioxide was in the atmosphere. Both are necessary. Ignoring one for the other is foolish or crazy or both.

mrob 7y ago

I think the biggest threat of plastics pollution is loss of our ability to use plastics as a long-term building/manufacturing material. Very few microbes can metabolize plastics now, but not zero, and the ability will only spread as plastics (and especially high surface-area to volume ratio microplastics) become more common in the wild. Microbes evolve fast, and they have access to horizontal gene transfer. Heavily fluorinated plastics might survive but I expect all cheap plastics will end up easily biodegradable. It's potentially a major inconvenience, but if we pretend it's as big a threat as CO2 pollution then civilization will have collapsed before it happens, so that's one way to avoid the problem.

Merrill 7y ago
"Mutant 59: The Plastic Eater" - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081RLFEY/ref=dp-kindle-redirect https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081RLFEY/ref=dp-kindle-redirect Science fiction from 1971. The main effect hypothesized was the disintegration of electrical insulation, which destroyed power distribution, communications, and electronics.
hinkley 7y ago
But if the food web collapses it won’t matter how much carbon dioxide was in the atmosphere. Both are necessary. Ignoring one for the other is foolish or crazy or both.