Belém Health Action Plan
The 2025 Global Conference on Climate and Health held in Brazil shaped the Belém Health Action Plan. This plan, to be launched at COP30 in November 2025, aims to define the global agenda on climate and health. India’s absence from the conference was a missed chance to showcase its integrated developmental model. India’s experience offers vital lessons on linking climate action with health through intersectoral welfare programmes.
India’s Welfare Schemes as Climate-Health Models
India’s flagship programmes demonstrate how non-climate policies yield climate and health benefits. The Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) scheme feeds over 110 million children in nearly 1.1 million schools. It connects health, education, agriculture, and food systems by promoting millets and traditional grains. This approach tackles malnutrition and builds climate-resilient food systems simultaneously. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan improved sanitation and public health while promoting environmental sustainability. MNREGA’s environmental works restored ecosystems and enhanced rural livelihoods. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) switched households to clean cooking fuel, reducing air pollution and respiratory illnesses while cutting carbon emissions. These programmes show that health and climate co-benefits arise from carefully designed welfare policies.
Political Leadership and Community Engagement
Strong political will was key in driving these initiatives. Direct involvement of the Prime Minister ensured cross-ministerial cooperation and public support. Climate policies framed as health emergencies gain broader attention and urgency. Community engagement is also crucial. Swachh Bharat invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s vision, making cleanliness a cultural value. PM POSHAN built grassroots support through school committees and parent groups. Similarly, climate action needs cultural anchoring to link environmental goals with health and prosperity.
Institutional Integration and Local Empowerment
Successful policies built on existing institutions instead of creating parallel structures. Accredited Social Health Activists, self-help groups, municipal bodies, and panchayats serve as key actors. When these groups understand the links between environment and health, they become effective advocates. Embedding climate action in current social frameworks ensures sustainability and wider reach.
Challenges in Intersectoral Policy Implementation
Despite successes, challenges remain. Siloed administration hampers coordination as policies move from outputs to outcomes. For example, LPG refill costs under PMUY remain high due to conflicting business interests. Social and cultural barriers also limit equitable access without ongoing reinforcement. Addressing these requires institutional mechanisms that focus on measuring outcomes rather than just outputs.
A Framework for Health-Anchored Climate Governance
India’s experience suggests a three-pillar approach – 1. Strategic prioritisation by political leaders framing climate as an immediate health concern. 2. Procedural integration by embedding health impact assessments in all climate-relevant policies. 3. Participatory implementation leveraging health as a community mobiliser. This approach links cleaner air, safer water, and nutritious food to tangible health benefits, enabling local health workers to become climate advocates.
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