Research on climate change and health in India: a priority setting exercise
Background
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified climate change as the greatest threat to human health in the twenty-first century, with an estimated 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050 due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and heat stress alone. Climate change is contributing to increase adverse impact not restricted to human health, but also extending to social, economic, and political domains.
It is widely recognised that identifying practical solutions to handle the health aspects of climate change needs trans- and multi-disciplinary research. As the window for effective responses is rapidly closing, identifying priority research questions on climate change is key from the point of both resourcing and action for funders and academics.
Aims
To identify priority research questions on climate change and health in India in the following domains:
- Impact of climate change on health and disease
- Interventions to protect health from climate change
- Climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts which target health risks specifically or as co-benefits
- Policy, governance, and decision-making tools
- Adaptation or development of tools and frameworks for any of the domains listed above.
Research Methodology
We are using a rapid low-cost approach, in 2 phases:
Phase I: We will conduct a systematic mapping of literature on climate change and health, complemented by an online survey to gather additional research questions. These questions will be synthesised into a comprehensive long list.
Phase II: We will carry out an online survey to rate and prioritise the questions, ultimately developing a consensus list of priority research questions.
Current Status
We have completed the phase 1 of the project and are planning to move to phase 2.
