The impact of climate change is not limited to environmental degradation; it also extends to human health. Recognizing this, the Indian government is taking proactive steps to address the health challenges posed by climate change at the state level. Every state in India is developing a comprehensive action plan to combat the effects of climate change on people’s health. These action plans are being drafted in consultation with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and will be submitted to the Union Health Ministry for approval. Once approved, these plans will provide tailored guidelines for each state to handle the impact of climate change on health over the next five years. Each plan will include a detailed analysis of the state’s vulnerability to climate change, its population demographics, prevalent illnesses, and environmental hazards. These plans will serve as a valuable guide for doctors and hospitals, outlining strategies to tackle climate change-related health issues. They will also address manpower requirements and the development of flood-resilient centers to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events. Recognizing the need to enhance adaptive capacity, the plans will focus on empowering communities to adjust to the changing climate and minimize its adverse effects. The NCDC has been instrumental in supporting states through the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health. This program involves training sessions for medical officers, the creation of systems to collect data on health issues across the country, and the integration of climate change impact into medical curricula. The NCDC is also actively working to address vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, which are expected to worsen due to climate change. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been collaborating with the Indian government and other partners to develop readiness plans and conduct assessments of health vulnerability and adaptation. A UNICEF report in 2021 highlighted India’s vulnerability to climate change, ranking it 26th out of 163 countries in terms of children’s exposure to climate-related risks. The report emphasized that women, children, and people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change. In response to these concerns, the WHO has projected an increase of 250,000 climate-related deaths worldwide annually between 2030 and 2050. With almost 25% of children in India facing high or extremely high water vulnerability, UNICEF has estimated that nearly 600 million children globally will reside in areas of extreme water stress by 2040. The Indian government’s initiative to develop state-specific action plans is a significant step towards safeguarding public health from the adverse effects of climate change. These plans will empower states to implement effective measures, ensuring that India’s response to climate change is comprehensive and tailored to the unique challenges faced by each region.
Indian States Set to Tackle Climate Change’s Impact on Health
