[Answered] Critically analyze the health vulnerabilities faced by different regions in India due to climate change. How do these vulnerabilities vary across different districts, and what are the underlying causes?

Climate change poses significant health vulnerabilities across different regions in India, impacting districts in varied ways as highlighted in the article “Climate change and human health” published in Climatic Change.

Health Vulnerabilities Across Regions

• Malnutrition and Food Insecurity: The productivity of agriculture is impacted by climate change, which causes a shortage of food and a rise in malnutrition. Agriculturally reliant areas are more susceptible to health problems because of broken food supply systems and malnutrition.
• Issues with the Respiratory System: Air pollution has increased due to climate change, which aggravates respiratory systems. Air pollution levels are frequently higher in urban areas and locations with heavy industrial activity, which can harm respiratory health.
• Heat-Related Illnesses: As temperatures rise, there is a greater chance of developing heat-related ailments like dehydration and heatstroke. Individuals in vulnerable demographics, such as the elderly and those with underlying medical concerns, are particularly vulnerable.

Regional Disparities Across Districts

• Geographical Variations: The study shows that more than half of India’s population, living in 344 districts, face high or very high health vulnerability induced by climate change. Coastal districts may experience health vulnerabilities due to sea-level rise and extreme weather events, impacting water and food security.
• Urban-Rural Divide: Because of increased pollution and the urban heat island effect, urban districts may have greater rates of respiratory problems and heat-related illnesses. Agricultural interruptions can harm nutrition and livelihoods in rural areas.
• Socioeconomic Factors: Districts with lower socioeconomic levels may be more vulnerable to health concerns associated with climate change because they lack the resources for quality healthcare.

Causes of Health Vulnerabilities

• Inadequate Healthcare Infrastructure: Increasing public expenditure on health could have a significant impact on reducing out-of-pocket expenditure. Studies suggest that poorly developed primary healthcare remains a major factor for high infant mortality rates and poor child health indicators.
• Poor Climate Resilience: Regions that are not equipped with climate-resilient policies and infrastructure are at risk from the negative health effects of extreme weather events like cyclones and floods. Due to disruptions in livelihoods and food supply, districts that strongly rely on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture are more vulnerable to the health effects of climate change.
• Policy Gaps: Increasing vulnerabilities are a result of district-level health and climate adaptation strategies being implemented inconsistently or insufficiently. A lack of coordination or prioritizing of climate-health issues may lead to policy gaps.

Conclusion

To reduce vulnerability and enhance adaptive capacities in the face of the climate crisis, it’s crucial to create sustainable jobs, improve working conditions, establish social safety nets, and boost education and employability. Achieving these goals is contingent on the active engagement of local governance institutions, alongside making the healthcare system more accountable to the community.