Global climate change is likely to have significant impacts on freshwater fisheries. Despite uncertainties in climate models, recent and long-term climate changes suggest that greenhouse gas emissions have altered mean annual temperatures, precipitation, and weather patterns. Climate models predict a 1–7°C global temperature increase, regional changes in precipitation and storm tracks, and potential sudden irreversible regime shifts. Climate change is expected to increase water temperatures, decrease dissolved oxygen levels, and increase pollutant toxicity in freshwater systems. In lotic systems, altered hydrologic regimes and increased groundwater temperatures may affect fish habitat quality. In lentic systems, eutrophication may be exacerbated or offset, and stratification will likely become more pronounced. These changes could alter food webs and change habitat availability and quality. Fish physiology is closely linked to temperature, and their life histories will be affected by climate change. Fish communities may change as range shifts occur at the species level, adding novel biotic pressures. Genetic changes may occur as a biological response for species unable to migrate or acclimate. Endemic or fragmented species may struggle to follow thermal isolines. Fisheries worldwide depend on freshwater fish, and climate change could hinder food security in developing countries and cause economic losses in developed ones. Climate change will become a more powerful stressor over time, and human responses like increased water diversion may worsen its effects. Even if greenhouse gas emissions decrease or stop, climate change will continue, necessitating proactive management strategies to sustain freshwater fisheries. Climate change is a complex issue with uncertainties at all levels, but evidence shows that human activities have significantly increased greenhouse gas concentrations, leading to current warming trends. Paleoclimatic data indicate that current temperatures are higher than in previous interglacial periods, suggesting further warming is not natural. Climate change is likely to have significant impacts on freshwater fisheries, requiring urgent management and adaptation strategies.Global climate change is likely to have significant impacts on freshwater fisheries. Despite uncertainties in climate models, recent and long-term climate changes suggest that greenhouse gas emissions have altered mean annual temperatures, precipitation, and weather patterns. Climate models predict a 1–7°C global temperature increase, regional changes in precipitation and storm tracks, and potential sudden irreversible regime shifts. Climate change is expected to increase water temperatures, decrease dissolved oxygen levels, and increase pollutant toxicity in freshwater systems. In lotic systems, altered hydrologic regimes and increased groundwater temperatures may affect fish habitat quality. In lentic systems, eutrophication may be exacerbated or offset, and stratification will likely become more pronounced. These changes could alter food webs and change habitat availability and quality. Fish physiology is closely linked to temperature, and their life histories will be affected by climate change. Fish communities may change as range shifts occur at the species level, adding novel biotic pressures. Genetic changes may occur as a biological response for species unable to migrate or acclimate. Endemic or fragmented species may struggle to follow thermal isolines. Fisheries worldwide depend on freshwater fish, and climate change could hinder food security in developing countries and cause economic losses in developed ones. Climate change will become a more powerful stressor over time, and human responses like increased water diversion may worsen its effects. Even if greenhouse gas emissions decrease or stop, climate change will continue, necessitating proactive management strategies to sustain freshwater fisheries. Climate change is a complex issue with uncertainties at all levels, but evidence shows that human activities have significantly increased greenhouse gas concentrations, leading to current warming trends. Paleoclimatic data indicate that current temperatures are higher than in previous interglacial periods, suggesting further warming is not natural. Climate change is likely to have significant impacts on freshwater fisheries, requiring urgent management and adaptation strategies.