Why in News: The Global Conference on Climate and Health (July 2025) in Brazil with 90 countries framed the Belém Health Action Plan to be launched at COP30. India was not officially represented, but its welfare programmes offer lessons for integrated climate–health governance.
Introduction
- Climate change is not just an environmental issue but also a public health crisis.
- India’s experience with intersectoral policies like PM POSHAN, Swachh Bharat, MNREGA, and PM Ujjwala Yojana demonstrates how non-health interventions can deliver both health and climate co-benefits.
India’s Developmental Insights
- PM POSHAN: Tackled malnutrition while promoting climate-resilient millets.
- Swachh Bharat: Improved sanitation, dignity, and environment.
- MNREGA: Created rural jobs, restored degraded ecosystems.
- PMUY: Reduced indoor air pollution, carbon footprint.
Challenges
- Siloed Governance: Ministries revert to departmental mandates after initial convergence.
- Economic Pressures: LPG refill costs under PMUY; oil business interests override beneficiary needs.
- Equity Barriers: Gender, caste, and income disparities limit access to schemes.
- Outcome Measurement Gap: Focus on outputs (toilets built, LPG distributed) rather than health outcomes.
- Behavioural Resistance: Cultural practices, lack of awareness hinder adoption of cleaner, sustainable practices.
Way Forward
- Strategic Framing: Position climate action as a health emergency for stronger political traction.
- Health Impact Assessments: Make them mandatory in all climate-relevant sectors (energy, transport, agriculture, urban planning).
- Institutional Integration: Mainstream climate-health concerns into existing bodies (Panchayats, ASHAs, SHGs).
- Community Participation: Use health as a mobilising narrative — cleaner air and safer water resonate more than abstract carbon goals.
- Equity Safeguards: Subsidies, targeted support to ensure access for vulnerable groups.
- Technology & Data: Digital platforms to track outcomes and integrate climate-health indicators in policy monitoring.
- Global Leadership: India can champion South-South cooperation, sharing its welfare model at COP30.
Conclusion
India’s welfare schemes underline that health and climate are not separate silos. By institutionalising intersectoral governance, embedding health in climate action, and leading international dialogue, India can emerge as a model for the Global South in operationalising the climate–health vision.
UPSC Relevance
GS Paper III (Environment, Health, Disaster Management): Climate change as a health emergency; co-benefits of climate action and public health interventions.
Mains Practice Question
Q. “India’s welfare programmes, though not designed as climate policies, have yielded significant health and environmental co-benefits. In the context of the Belém Health Action Plan (2025), discuss how India’s experience can contribute to framing a climate–health vision for the Global South.” (250 words)