Development, malaria and adaptation to climate change: a case study from India.
Amit Garg1, R C Dhiman, Sumana Bhattacharya
1Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad, India. amitgarg@iimahd.ernet.in
Environmental Management
|January 8, 2009
Summary
Climate change poses significant risks to India, particularly concerning malaria. Integrated development and climate policies are crucial for enhancing community resilience and reducing health impacts from climate change.
Area of Science:
- Environmental science
- Public health
- Climate change adaptation
Background:
- India faces substantial climate change risks, with over 650 million people reliant on climate-sensitive livelihoods and 973 million exposed to malaria.
- Climate projections indicate an increased malaria risk for the Indian population.
- Certain development activities, like dams and irrigation, can worsen malaria breeding grounds if not managed properly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To integrate climate change and development variables for assessing impacts and adaptation strategies.
- To examine malaria incidence in India as a case study for integrated impact assessment.
- To develop a framework for understanding the interplay between climate change, development, and public health.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of climate change variables: temperature, rainfall, humidity, and extreme events.
- Inclusion of development variables: income levels, institutional capacity, and infrastructure development.
- Case study approach focusing on malaria incidence in India.
Main Results:
- Sustainable development can mitigate some climate change impacts but may exacerbate them if poorly managed.
- Development variables can have both positive and negative effects on system resilience and health outcomes.
- The interaction between climate and development significantly influences malaria risk.
Conclusions:
- Well-managed development policies are essential for building community resilience to climate change.
- Effective policies can lower health impacts, specifically reducing malaria incidence.
- Integrated approaches considering both climate and development are vital for public health adaptation.
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