Unpacking the first ever COP ‘Health Day’
- The recently concluded COP28 reinforced the urgency to address the climate crisis.
Climate Crisis as a Public Health Crisis
- Severe temperatures, floods, and vector-borne diseases highlight the threat to health security.
- Therefore, the WHO declared climate change the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century.
- Marginalized communities face the worst impacts, and climate change could push over 100 million people into extreme poverty by 2030.
- Much of this reversal would be due to the “negative impacts on health”.
Health Day at COP28
- The inaugural Health Day at COP28 emphasized the link between climate and health, asserting that combating climate change is vital for global health.
- Over 46 million health professionals urged an accelerated, just, and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels as the decisive path to health for all.
Key Events and Declarations
- COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate and Health signifies global commitment to address climate-related health impacts, supported by 143 countries.
- The first-ever climate-health ministerial brought together ministers to address the growing burden of climate change on healthcare systems.
- It was hosted by the COP28 Presidency, WHO, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention and a group of champion countries.
India's Position
- India was not represented on Health Day at COP28.
- Over the last two decades, India has witnessed a significant rise in extreme temperatures, heat stress events, cyclones, floods, droughts, and malnutrition.
- India witnesses disasters almost daily, causing loss of lives, affecting crop areas, and damaging infrastructure.
- In 2019 it ranked seventh globally for the severe impact of climate change, as in the Global Climate Risk Index.
- The Reserve Bank of India warns of a potential 4.5% GDP loss by 2030 due to extreme heat's impact on labour hours.
- Air pollution in India led to 1.6 million premature deaths in 2019.
Public Health Challenges
- Malaria, malnutrition, and diarrhoea, coupled with weather-related disasters, strain India's public health infrastructure.
- Climate change poses a significant threat to the vulnerable population, relying on climate-sensitive sectors for livelihoods.
Need for Health-Centric Climate Planning
- Over 700 million individuals in India depend on climate-sensitive sectors for livelihoods, necessitating plans addressing their health needs.
- Prioritising health in climate planning safeguards both immediate and long-term well-being in the face of climate change impacts.
- Integrating health into climate planning is economically prudent, reduces healthcare costs, and enhances overall effectiveness and sustainability of climate actions in India.