Climate change drives internal migration and river oxygen loss

New research highlights the profound impact of climate change on global human movement and aquatic ecosystems. A study published in Nature Climate Change, conducted by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), reveals that climate-driven internal migration is a significant driver of urbanization. Analyzing population data from 72 countries between 1960 and 2016, researchers found consistent patterns of people moving from drought-prone southern regions to more stable northern areas, and from rural agricultural zones to urban centers.

Simultaneously, a study in Science Advances warns of a widespread and long-term loss of dissolved oxygen in the world’s river systems. This phenomenon, primarily driven by climate change, is creating ‘dead zones’ that threaten freshwater biodiversity. Tropical rivers are identified as particularly vulnerable. Experts note that as oxygen levels drop, aquatic organisms face physiological stress, which can be fatal during critical life cycle stages, particularly when concentrations fall below certain milligram-per-liter thresholds.