The climate crisis is accelerating the spread of antibiotic resistance across the world, according to a new study linking rising temperatures and environmental disruption to stronger resistance genes in salmonella. Experts say climate change was associated with a 10 per cent rise in salmonella antibiotic resistance genes between 1940 and 2023.
A growing health threat
Antibiotic resistance is already one of the most serious global public health risks. When bacteria become resistant to medicines, common infections become harder to treat, hospital stays increase and the risk of death rises. The new findings suggest that climate change is making this problem worse.
Salmonella under scrutiny
The study focused on salmonella, a major cause of foodborne illness worldwide. Researchers found that resistance genes increased over decades, with climate-linked factors contributing to the trend. Warmer conditions can help bacteria survive, spread and exchange genetic material more easily.
Climate and disease connect
The findings underline that climate change is not only an environmental or economic issue. It is also a health systems issue. Flooding, heat, disrupted sanitation, food supply stress and changing animal farming conditions can all increase the risk of resistant infections spreading.
Pressure on poorer regions
The impact may be greatest in countries with weaker health infrastructure, limited laboratory capacity and high exposure to climate shocks. In such settings, resistant infections can spread faster and become harder to detect, monitor and control.
The message is clear: climate policy and health policy can no longer be treated separately. If rising temperatures help drive antibiotic resistance, then cutting emissions, strengthening sanitation and improving disease surveillance become part of the same global defence strategy.
Newshub Editorial in Global News – 27 May 2026
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