This book focuses on the risks that climate change poses for the health sector. It discusses
the current vulnerabilities to climate-sensitive diseases the resultant mortality and
morbidity in human populations the projected risks in connection with increasing global
warming and the options for tackling the adverse impacts of climate change. Adapting to
climate change so as to effectively address the risks for and adverse impacts on the health
sector requires an in-depth understanding of current deficits in health sector preparedness for
climate-sensitive illnesses as well as future plans and programs for increasing adaptive
capacity and building resilience.The book situates climate and health adaptation concerns in
the broader context of developing countries providing insights that can be useful for other
countries as well helping them further their health adaptation efforts. In India poverty and
inadequate access to basic water health and sanitation services combine with climate-related
events to adversely impact health outcomes. Three case studies on the occurrence of heat stress
flooding and extreme cyclonic events in India are presented along with a critical assessment
of the level of preparedness and capacity of healthcare facilities to respond to the threats
posed by climate change. The book presents the key challenges faced in reducing the risks posed
to the health sector by climatic factors and highlights the most important opportunities for
promoting resilience and adaptation to achieve sustainable development.Dr. Dasgupta's excellent
book reviews the health risks of climate change outlines an operational framework for health
adaptation and describes the socioeconomic context for adaptation in India. - Kristie L.
EbiProfessor Departments of Global Health and Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
University of Washington USAThis pioneering work contributes to an the understanding of the
preparedness in India to manage health risks from such (climate) change on the basis of
detailed data analysis both from large national surveys and contextualized field based
surveys.- Kanchan ChopraFormer Director and Professor Institute of Economic Growth New Delhi
India
