Abstract

Good health of populations is reliant upon the continued stability and functioning of the natural environment. Yet, we tend to disregard this long-established truth that the global climate system is an essential component of our lives. The existing data projects the devastating effects that climate change has on public health security and the developing country populations, particularly in small island states, arid and high mountain zones, and in densely populated coastal areas are considered to be mainly vulnerable. India has a population of over a billion and 700 million people living in rural areas directly depends on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, forestry, and fisheries and natural resources such as water, biodiversity, mangroves, coastal zones, grasslands, for their survival and livelihoods. The change in climatic conditions will result in frequent and intense heatwaves, floods, and draughts affecting the lives of the vulnerable in India and would further escalate vector-borne diseases such as malaria, and diarrhoea which can cripple the already pitiable public health infrastructure in the country. In this background, the paper will look into- How is climate change impacting India today and who are the most affected, and how will climate change impact the human health in India?

Keywords