Linkages Between Climate Change and Human Health: Need for an Action

Climate change is a human development issue which undermines expanding human potential, developing capabilities and enlarging freedom. Climate change poses major obstacles to progress in meeting MDGs and maintaining progress raising the HDI. The present paper focus on the specific issues related to the impacts on climate change on human health in India. Climate change is inextricably linked to the broader sustainable development agenda to reduce poverty, child mortality and morbidity, and to ensure universal primary education for all children. Climate change will have a wide range of implications to human health. Small changes in climate can result in substantial changes in risk. The increased health risks are likely to be most acute in developing countries especially in India. Unsafe water and sanitation conditions and decrease water accessibility would further increase the transmission of infectious diseases. Hence climate change is threatening the capacity of the country like India to attain the Millennium development goals by 2015. Concerted action to strengthen key features of health systems and to promote sustainable and healthy development choices can enhance current health conditions as well as reduce vulnerability to future climate change. Efforts to address climate change adaptation needs should not take resources away from the core development needs and growth objectives of the developing countries.