<p>Global climate change poses serious risks in various ways and affects river ecosystems worldwide. However, the connections between climate change, the distribution and toxicity of pollutants, and their combined effects on the complex ecology of river systems remain unclear due to unpredictable climatic patterns and their interactions with pollutants. In this review, we investigate the links between climate change and various aspects of river pollution, along with their collective impacts on aquatic ecosystems. It integrates current understanding of the interactions among altered flow, nutrient forms and their transformation, and pollution in rivers with key climatic factors, all of which collectively influence river ecosystems. Notable relationships have been identified between climate change-driven hydrological changes and the distribution and dynamics of pollutants in rivers, which are influenced by increased sedimentation and contaminant mobility. Additionally, the interplay between climate change and nutrient fluxes (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and biogenic silica) is undergoing transformation and plays a vital role in global geochemical cycles and river health. These interactions are affecting key aquatic organisms, thereby posing a collective threat to freshwater ecosystems. Future research priorities have been outlined to strengthen the understanding of the links between climate change and river pollution, based on current knowledge and remaining research gaps, to support more effective river conservation strategies.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>