“The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that climate change is responsible for at least 150,000 deaths per year, a number that is expected to double by 2030.”
For climate and health, the intersection of these two domains presents both critical challenges and transformative opportunities. Climate change is not only an environmental issue but also a profound health crisis, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, including those in poverty, marginalized by gender or occupation, and residing in high-risk geographic areas.
Through years of working closely with marginalized communities, we have learned that resilience is the cornerstone of adapting to the health impacts of a changing climate. Without strengthening the capacity of communities and health systems to anticipate, absorb, and recover from climate shocks, achieving well-being will remain unattainable for many.
We prioritize addressing differential impacts, recognizing that factors such as gender, pregnancy, age (particularly the elderly and children), geography, disaster risk, economic status, occupation, exposure, and pre-existing infections or chronic health conditions significantly influence how individuals experience climate-related health challenges. By acknowledging these differences, health systems can be strengthened to enhance equity and resilience.
This understanding shapes our approach to climate-health resilience, which focuses on:
Our work in climate and health is rooted in the belief that participatory, inclusive approaches are essential for building community and health system resilience and fostering well-being. By addressing systemic vulnerabilities and creating pathways for adaptive action, we aim to bridge the gap between climate adaptation and improved health outcomes.
Swasti, in collaboration with the Government of Andhra Pradesh, implemented a set of integrated health initiatives in Ananthapuramu district as a pilot to demonstrate scalable models for strengthening health systems and climate resilience across the state. This convergence of data-driven decision-making, frontline capacity building, and climate-health action provides a blueprint for potential replication across other districts in Andhra Pradesh.
Key Initiatives:
The program was piloted in Ananthapuramu district with the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
Partners: Government of Andhra Pradesh
The Climate Care Champions program will address the critical gap in knowledge and preparedness among community health workers, enabling them to prevent, prepare for- and respond to climate-related health needs in the communities they serve.
The key goals are to:
The 2024 Heat x Health pilot reached 300+ frontline workers and 30k+ individuals across 6 heat-prone states in India
Partners: Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education (GCCHE), Columbia University
Farmers and fisherfolk are the backbone of global sustenance, yet they face immense risks from climate change. Their livelihoods, environments, and well-being are threatened by diminishing resources, food and water insecurity, and inadequate shelter and income.
The community resilience hub focuses on assessing climate resilience among these communities in high-risk areas of South and South East Asia, particularly the health impacts, and supporting transformative actions. Key priorities include:
The program was piloted across farmers and fisherfolk in 2 states in India, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Partners: Vrutti
India ranks seventh among the countries most affected by climate change. Extreme weather events and rising temperatures disproportionately impact marginalized populations, making an integrated approach essential. At the district level, where local leadership and health systems intersect with climate risks, this approach ensures more effective and sustainable solutions.
Solutions and Why They Matter:
An integrated approach to climate and health strengthens resilience, ensures timely action, and improves long-term outcomes for communities facing the compounding effects of climate change.
Partners: Bhojpur District, Bihar
Precision Health Platform’s climate initiative, PATCH, offers a robust solution to effectively address public health threats from adverse climate events. This is in the form of a concrete-action-linked, localized, and comprehensive early warning system for cities and states that can operationalise climate resilience and risk mitigation, allowing for precise action towards climate and health risks.
The key offering provides a customizable dashboard to identify vulnerable areas, prioritise actions, and support risk communication by integrating data from environmental, health, and social sectors. The platform also provides technical support to the government through evidence-based sensemaking and tailored risk communication and community engagement strategies.
Triangulating intelligence from diverse sources and surveillance tools enables development of enhanced real-time, localized, and publicly available systems, empowering stakeholders in data-driven decisions and communities with the knowledge needed to proactively manage their health.
Partners: Philippines City Level - Tabaco City; India State Governments - Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya
The Green Health Alliance (GHA) is a collaborative platform committed to advancing climate resilience in health systems and communities. Established under the Catalyst Group with support from Rockefeller Foundation, Asian Development Bank, and the Principal Scientific Adviser’s Office, GHA brings together diverse stakeholders to address the intersection of climate and health in India and beyond.
GHA’s mission is to empower at-risk communities and health systems to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Its goals include decarbonizing health facilities in Asia through need assessments, market linkages, and financing solutions. The alliance also aims to build the resilience of over one million vulnerable individuals—farmers, fisherfolk, and mothers—by providing evidence, tools, and communication for climate-health risk adaptation.
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Programme Manager
