Context
- Recently, a comprehensive report titled “Under the Weather: India’s Climate-Health Intersections and Pathways to Resilience” was released by the ClimateRISE Alliance in collaboration with Dasra.
- The report highlights that climate change has evolved from an environmental concern into a systemic public health emergency in India, with nearly 40% of districts now at high risk from extreme weather events. It underscores how rising temperatures and erratic rainfall are not just ecological shifts but are actively reshaping disease landscapes and straining the national healthcare infrastructure.
1. Shifting Disease Patterns
Climate change acts as a “health-risk multiplier,” exacerbating the burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
- Vector-Borne Diseases (VBDs): Rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns are expanding the reach of malaria and dengue into previously unaffected high-altitude regions like Shimla, parts of Jammu & Kashmir, and the Himalayan foothills. Pune has been identified as a major emerging dengue hotspot.
- Water-Borne Diseases: Increased frequency of floods triggers outbreaks of cholera, hepatitis, and leptospirosis due to contaminated water sources.
- Non-Communicable Diseases: Heat exposure is directly linked to higher cardiovascular mortality. Air pollution (PM2.5) is worsening respiratory illnesses and chronic conditions.
2. Socio-Economic Impact and Vulnerability
The report highlights a “cycle of vulnerability” where the impact is disproportionately borne by marginalized groups.
- Labour Productivity: India lost approximately 160 billion labour hours due to heat exposure in 2021 (equivalent to ~5.4% of GDP).
- Maternal & Child Health: Exposure to extreme heat is linked to a 16% increase in the odds of preterm births. It also increases risks of pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy) and low birth weight.
- Vulnerable Groups: Rural populations, informal workers (outdoor labourers), women, and children are the most “climate-vulnerable” due to limited thermoregulation abilities and poor access to healthcare.
3. Institutional Framework in India
India has transitioned from general climate policies to targeted health-centric interventions:
- National Action Plan on Climate Change and Human Health (NAPCCHH): Launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to strengthen healthcare capacity against climate-sensitive illnesses.
- Heat Action Plans (HAPs): Implemented at city and district levels to provide early warnings and preparedness for heatwaves.
- National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCC&HH): Aims to create awareness, strengthen surveillance of climate-sensitive diseases, and build the capacity of healthcare professionals.
4. Key Challenges Identified
- Data Gaps: Lack of local, disaggregated data linking climate events specifically to health outcomes.
- Funding: Adaptation funding remains constrained and skewed heavily toward mitigation (reducing emissions) rather than building health resilience.
- Infrastructure: Fragmented data systems and weak public awareness hinder effective emergency responses.
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the impact of climate change on health in India:
1. The National Action Plan on Climate Change and Human Health (NAPCCHH) is an initiative under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
2. Rising temperatures have led to the expansion of vector-borne diseases like Malaria into high-altitude regions such as the Himalayan foothills.
3. According to recent reports, India lost over 5% of its GDP in 2021 due to labour hour losses caused by heat exposure.
How many of the statements symbols above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (b) Only two
Solution:
• STATEMENT 1 IS INCORRECT: The NAPCCHH is an initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), not the Ministry of Environment.
• STATEMENT 2 IS CORRECT: Climate change is shifting the ecological niche of vectors, allowing mosquitoes to survive in previously cooler regions like Shimla and the Himalayan foothills.
• STATEMENT 3 IS CORRECT: The Dasra/ClimateRISE report notes that India lost 160 billion labour hours in 2021, which is estimated to be equivalent to 5.4% of the GDP.
