Recognising the Impact of Climate Change on Health

This Post is based on the article "Recognising the impact of climate change on health" Which is Published in the The Hindu on 22nd November 2023. 

Introduction:

• As India prepares for the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), a critical concern emerges regarding the impact of climate change on the country's health. 

• The vulnerability of India's population to climate risks is exacerbated by inadequate health systems.

Direct Health Impacts:

• Climate change directly contributes to increased sickness and mortality rates.

• Indirectly, it influences nutrition, diminishes working hours, and heightens climate-induced stress. 

• The rising global temperatures, surpassing the agreed-upon limit of 1.5°C in the Paris Agreement, pose a severe threat. 

• Recent records indicate 2023 witnessed historically high temperatures and heat waves, with the situation expected to deteriorate further.

Double Burden of Morbidity:

• India faces a dual health challenge, grappling with both communicable and non-communicable diseases. 

• Climate change exacerbates this burden by fostering the growth of disease vectors, altering seasonality, and introducing pathogens into new areas, such as mosquitoes in the Himalayan states.

• Additionally, heat modifies the virulence of pathogens, while reduced access to food and water increases susceptibility to diseases.

Impact on Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health:

• Less recognised is the influence of climate change on non-communicable diseases and mental health. 

• Heat, coupled with physical exertion and dehydration, poses risks such as kidney injuries and exacerbates conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases.

• Mental health issues, including depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, are heightened during climate emergencies but are often overlooked in India.

Urbanisation Challenges:

• India's rapid and unplanned urbanisation aggravates the effects of climate change, particularly in urban areas lacking green spaces. 

• The urban heat island effect, intensified by asphalt roads and heat-retaining buildings, puts additional strain on the weak urban primary health system.

•  Mitigating these challenges involves better urban planning, green cover, water conservation, and improved public health interventions.

Mitigation Strategies:

• Effective mitigation efforts begin with understanding the direct and indirect pathways through which climate change impacts health. 

• Existing health information systems need modification to gather relevant data.

•  Addressing the impact is further enhanced by socio-economic support systems and health services. 

• However, upstream interventions such as improved urban planning and environmental conservation yield more significant benefits for health and its determinants.

Call for Action at all Levels:

• Addressing climate change and its health impacts requires coordinated action at the global, regional, and local levels. 

• Researchers must contribute policy options, and governments, at various levels, need to act on these options. 

• Only when problem identification, policy options, and political decision-making align can meaningful change be expected.

In conclusion, recognising and addressing the intersection of climate change and health is imperative for sustainable development in India.

Important Terms : 

Urban Heat Island :

• An Urban Heat Island refers to a localised and temporary occurrence within a city where specific areas experience higher temperatures compared to their surrounding environment. 

• This temperature increase is primarily attributed to the construction materials used in urban areas, such as concrete, which trap heat and hinder efficient dissipation. 

• The phenomenon results from the accumulation of heat between concrete structures, leading to temperature disparities ranging from 3 to 5 degrees Celsius.
  

Practice Question :

Q.Discuss the impact of climate change on health in India, considering direct and indirect effects, urbanisation challenges, and advocating coordinated global, regional, and local actions.

Answer in Comment Section -