A Climate–Health Vision with Lessons from India
Context
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July 29–31, 2025: Brazil hosted the Global Conference on Climate and Health with delegates from 90 countries.
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Outcome: Belém Health Action Plan, to be launched at COP30 (Nov 2025), will define the global climate-health agenda.
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India was not officially represented — a missed opportunity, since its welfare policies offer important lessons for operationalising climate–health integration.
Background
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Climate change and health are deeply interconnected.
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India’s developmental programmes, though not labelled “climate policies”, have generated substantial health and climate co-benefits.
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These demonstrate that intersectoral welfare policies can advance multiple developmental goals simultaneously.
Insights from India’s Welfare Programmes
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PM POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal Scheme)
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Nutrition + education + agriculture integration.
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Promotes millets and traditional grains → improves child nutrition + builds climate-resilient food systems.
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Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
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Tackled sanitation, public health, human dignity, environmental sustainability.
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Leveraged cultural symbolism (Mahatma Gandhi).
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MNREGA
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Rural livelihoods + environmental restoration (watershed, afforestation, soil conservation).
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PM Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
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Switch to LPG → reduced household air pollution (respiratory illnesses) + lowered carbon emissions.
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Key Lessons for Climate–Health Vision
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Political Leadership
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PM-led programmes (Swachh Bharat, PMUY) showed cross-ministry cooperation.
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Climate action should be framed as a health emergency, not just environmental.
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Community Engagement
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Cultural anchoring (Gandhi, women’s empowerment).
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Parent–teacher associations, school committees, SHGs → build grassroots ownership.
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Institutional Embedding
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Success lies in using existing institutions (ASHA workers, panchayats, municipal bodies) instead of parallel structures.
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Local actors can be effective climate-health advocates.
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Challenges Identified
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Administrative silos: Divergent responsibilities across ministries hinder outcome delivery.
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Affordability issues: High LPG refill costs under PMUY → business interests override beneficiaries.
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Social & cultural barriers: Persistent inequities limit utilisation and access.
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Outcome measurement gap: Policies often measure outputs (toilets built, LPG connections) rather than outcomes (usage, health benefits).
Proposed Framework for Climate–Health Governance
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Strategic Prioritisation
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Political framing of climate policy in terms of immediate health outcomes.
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Example: Clean cooking → women’s empowerment & respiratory health.
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Procedural Integration
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Embed health impact assessments in all climate-relevant policies (energy, agriculture, transport, urban planning).
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Similar to environmental clearances.
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Participatory Implementation
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Mobilise communities using health as an intuitive entry point (clean air, safe water, nutritious food).
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Health workers as climate advocates.
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Implications for India
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Opportunity to position itself as a Global South leader in integrated climate–health governance.
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Can showcase welfare model as a replicable framework for synergising SDGs (health, environment, livelihoods).
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Missed representation at Belém Plan discussions risks India losing narrative leadership.
Way Forward
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Deepen domestic institutionalisation of climate–health linkages.
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Ensure sustained affordability and equity in welfare programmes.
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Enhance global engagement: actively shape Belém Plan, COP30 discussions.
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Promote whole-of-society approach → political leadership + community anchoring + institutional embedding.
Conclusion
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India faces a clear choice:
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Continue treating climate change and health separately → limited gains, high costs.
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Or integrate them through intersectoral, health-anchored governance → transformative impact.
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India’s experience offers a template for Global South: bold, coordinated, whole-of-society climate-health vision.
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