Book

Climate change and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are widely recognized as two of the most pressing challenges confronting global health in the twenty-first century. Traditionally treated as separate crises, these phenomena are increasingly understood to be deeply interconnected. Environmental transformations driven by climate change—such as rising global temperatures, extreme weather events, flooding, drought, and ecosystem disruption—are altering microbial ecology and accelerating the emergence, persistence, and spread of drug-resistant pathogens across human, animal, and environmental systems. Climate Change and Antimicrobial Resistance: Converging Crises, Shared Consequences, and the Path Forward explores the growing body of evidence linking climate dynamics with antimicrobial resistance. The book examines how climate-driven changes influence microbial evolution, pathogen transmission, and patterns of antibiotic use. Warmer temperatures can enhance bacterial growth and gene transfer, while extreme weather events may facilitate the environmental dissemination of resistant microorganisms through contaminated water systems, agricultural runoff, and damaged infrastructure. At the same time, climate-related health pressures—including the expansion of infectious diseases and increased disease burden—can lead to higher antimicrobial consumption, further accelerating resistance development. Drawing on insights from environmental microbiology, epidemiology, climate science, and global health research, this book provides an interdisciplinary perspective on the emerging climate–AMR nexus. It highlights the complex pathways through which environmental change reshapes microbial ecosystems and challenges the effectiveness of modern medicine. By connecting scientific evidence with global health implications, the book underscores the urgent need to rethink how antimicrobial resistance is addressed in an era of accelerating planetary change.