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A new international study has revealed that climate change could significantly increase the spread of dangerous, drug-resistant pathogens in soil — putting human health at greater risk.
The research team, using machine learning models, predicts antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in soil could rise by nearly 25% by the end of the century in high-emission scenarios. The findings were published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.
Lead researcher Professor David W. Graham, a water engineer at Durham University, warned that changes to microbial life caused by warming may make it easier for harmful bacteria to move from the environment into human populations.
“Most people don’t realise that many of the pathogens responsible for infectious diseases originate from the environment,” said Professor Graham. “If antibiotic resistance grows in soil, we’ll likely see more infections that can’t be treated.”
The study also found that colder regions may suffer disproportionately as rising temperatures allow more bacteria to survive — and evolve. This could lead to the emergence of entirely new threats to health.
The research echoes predictions made in a 2023 United Nations report (Bracing for Superbugs), confirming that climate change could intensify antimicrobial resistance.
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