Climate change in the Indo-Pacific event series Heat and health: The impact of climate change on the Indian subcontinent

Across India, heat waves have been responsible for thousands of deaths over the last three decades – and as climate change intensifies, severe heat in India is becoming more frequent. Rising temperatures also have significant and direct implications for economic output and livelihoods, and increase the intensity of wildfires and droughts, as well as the transmission of diseases.

What will it take for India’s government to deal with these seemingly unsurmountable challenges? Which response options to protect public health from the effects of climate change are available, and feasible? Which national health and climate change strategies have been developed, and is national funding available to implement them? And is India’s health care system prepared for the challenging times ahead?

In episode 2 of the Climate Change in the Indo-Pacific series, we are joined by Mitali Chatterjee, Insurance Research Specialist, Swiss Re Institute and Bernd Wilke, Senior Risk Manager at Swiss Re Zurich.

“Climate Change in the Indo-Pacific” is a four-part series by Asia Society Switzerland and Swiss Re Institute exploring the effects of climate change on the Indo-Pacific and the world.