Ministry of Health and Asian Development Bank close conclave on climate and health solutions in India

New Delhi (India), September 27 (ANI): The second day of the Conclave on Climate and Health Solutions (CHS), co-hosted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has concluded successfully in Delhi, a press release said on Friday.

The two-day conclave focused on the urgent intersection of climate change and public health in India, bringing together policymakers, experts and stakeholders to develop practical strategies for the health sector in the face of these pressing challenges.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, today’s deliberations began with a series of insightful roundtable discussions. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on key issues including non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mental health, nutrition, climate-responsive healthcare, human resources, blended finance for bold bets on climate health, technology and digital data, and development of climate-resilient and responsive healthcare systems and infrastructure.

The conclave, which was attended by over 330 participants, was one of the highlights of the second day of a roundtable on ‘Climate Resilient and Climate-Responsive Healthcare Systems and Infrastructure’, chaired by representatives of 19 states and Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The release said this session highlighted the urgent need for adaptive infrastructure that can withstand the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.

During the round table entitled “Non-communicable diseases, nutrition and mental health” featured key discussions with various participants. Dr Cherian Varghese discussed the floods in Kerala and the impact of climate change on the social determinants of non-communicable diseases, in particular on livelihoods, access to healthcare and the disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable. Dr Naveen Kumar C discussed the mental health implications and their direct and indirect implications, while Dr Bhuvaneswari Balasubramanian from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) highlighted the integration of climate change and nutrition, the release added.

In a session titled ‘Bold blended finance for climate health’, Jaya Singh, Policy and Program Manager for Asia Pacific at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, highlighted the government’s role in setting regulations and safeguards for the private sector sector investors in the field of climate and health.

She also called for attractive financing models, such as green catalyst financing and guarantee-based grants, to support targeted sectors, including infrastructure, health and education. Himanshu Sikka, Pahal Samridh Program Manager, highlighted that although 25% of the global burden of disease is related to environmental risk factors, only 0.5% of international climate finance is allocated to health.

The release said: “The session also showcased innovations in the conclave’s sub-areas such as the Climate Risk Observatory’s tool for mapping and managing heat and health, Pluss Technologies, Blackfrog Technologies and Redwings for climate-resilient health infrastructure, and the work of ARTPARK, IISc Bangalore on for climate and health early warning systems. Capping off the workshop on the Focused Large-Scale Transformative Climate and Health Workshop, led by senior government officials and ADB representatives, participants comprehensively presented the sub-thematic outcomes of the two-day conclave aimed at aligning health systems with climate goals, he added.

The conclave served as an important platform for developing concrete, feasible and forward-looking solutions, highlighting the urgent need to integrate climate action with public health strategies. Participants from across states and sectors successfully initiated dialogues and action plans that will shape India’s approach to health and climate in the years to come.

In his concluding remarks at the end of the debriefing, Apurva Chandra, Secretary, MoHFW, expressed gratitude to all participating stakeholders, experts and policy makers. He stated: “As we conclude this important Conclave on Climate and Health Solutions, our focused discussions over the past two days have highlighted the interconnected crises of climate change and public health, demonstrating the power of collective action. The solutions presented in our in-depth session overview have paved the way for practical strategies that integrate climate-conscious thinking with health policy. As India stands at a critical juncture, we have an opportunity – not only to respond to these challenges, but also to lead the global agenda on climate and health. Let’s translate the insights gained here into concrete actions for a resilient future. Going forward, ADB and MoHFW will publish a final document detailing the conclave’s eight key themes, identified outcomes, and an accompanying set of actions that will inform national, subnational and regional authorities’ climate and health action plans. The India Conclave to Focus Attention and Action on Climate and Health Solutions (CHS) will serve as a blueprint for future provincial climate and health sprints, boot camps and initiatives, the release said.

LS Changsan, Additional Secretary Public Health, MoHFW, and Latha Ganapathy, Joint Secretary Public Health, MoHFW, praised the gathering as a monumental conclave that marks a turning point in the Indian health sector.

Ayako Inagaki, senior director at the Office of the Human and Social Development Sector, and Dr. Dinesh Arora, chief health officer at the Asian Development Bank’s Health Practices Team, reiterated that the Indian experience will serve as a precedent for building the climate action agenda and health and begin operationalization across Asia, the Pacific and beyond. (OR)