2.2.4 Impacts of climate change on people and places

News article

Weatherwatch: Climate crisis fuelling steep fall in migratory bird numbers

Many species under threat use the African-Eurasian flyway, one of the planet’s largest mass-migration systems

The Guardian · 20 August 2026

Key terms

• Biome
  • A large-scale community of plants and animals adapted to a particular climate, whose spatial distribution can shift as the climate changes.

• Climate migration
  • The movement of people forced to leave their homes as a result of climate change impacts such as sea-level rise, flooding or drought.

• Northern Sea Route
  • An Arctic shipping route running along Russia's northern coast, opening for longer periods as sea ice melts due to climate change.

• Northwest Passage
  • A sea route through the Arctic Ocean along the northern coast of North America, becoming more navigable as climate change reduces sea ice.

• Ocean transport routes
  • The navigating lanes, both natural and man-made, in wide waterways used by large vessels to connect major ports and carry cargo. These routes allow efficient, safe and economic transportation of goods while offering the shortest sailing times.

• West Nile fever
  • An infection by the West Nile virus, which is typically spread by mosquitoes. In about 80% of infections people have few or no symptoms. About 20% of people develop a fever, headache, vomiting, or a rash. In less than 1% of people, encephalitis or meningitis occurs, with associated neck stiffness, confusion, or seizures. Recovery may take weeks to months. The risk of death among those in whom the nervous system is affected is about 10 percent.