JSW Foundation and the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) have collaborated to launch the JSW Centre for Climate Change and Health (JSW CCCH) at the PHFI Headquarters in Delhi NCR. This centre will play a crucial role in aiding the Government of India’s initiatives to tackle the effects of climate change through the National Program for Climate Change & Human Health.
The JSW CCCH will address critical gaps in trained human resources, evidence generation, and technical capacity within India’s rapidly evolving climate change landscape.
Mrs. Sangita Jindal, Chairperson of JSW Foundation, emphasized the urgent need for such an initiative, stating, “For every large societal problem, be it education, climate change or inequality, the collective should be driven towards creating effective and inclusive solutions. Health impacts of climate change are increasingly evident, and it is our responsibility to build a robust framework that can anticipate, respond, and mitigate these challenges. The JSW Centre for Climate Change and Health is a testament to our commitment to a healthier and more sustainable future for all.”
Professor Sanjay Zodpey, President, Public Health Foundation of India said, “The Launch of the JSW Centre for Climate Change and Health at PHFI reinforces the commitment of PHFI and JSW Foundation towards building a Climate Resilient India. The Centre will focus on key priority areas to address the health impacts of climate change outlined in the Mission on Health under the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change. The Centre will build knowledge, capacity and expertise in strengthening health systems and health of communities.”
The broad scope and key focus areas of the JSW CCCH include:
- Capacity Building: Developing professional expertise among policymakers, program personnel, and communities through targeted training, including specialized courses for healthcare professionals and a standardized module for public health programs.
- Research: Conducting vital program- and policy-relevant research to understand the health impacts of climate change and to design, test, and scale innovative solutions.
- Knowledge Sharing & Raising Public Awareness: Creating comprehensive resource materials for diverse stakeholders, including the media, and amplifying community awareness through workshops, webinars, and engaging social media campaigns.
- Advocacy (Evidence to Policy): Translating research into actionable policy briefs and collaborating with premier institutes to host round table discussions and produce white papers for government advocacy.
- Collaborations and Partnerships: Forging strong alliances with leading domestic and international institutions, universities, and organizations dedicated to climate change and health.
- Specialty Domain Areas: Focusing on critical areas such as heat impacts on health, environmental extremes (cyclones, sea-level rise), climate change adaptation, mitigation, resilience, preparedness, and the impacts on food, nutrition, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The centre will also champion a One-Health and Planetary Health approach to build resilient health systems for disasters and pandemics.
- Decarbonisation: Providing essential information on academic, technical, market-level, and funding resources for decarbonisation, and developing guidelines for sustainable procurement in public and private hospitals, with a focus on clean energy, zero-emission building materials, sustainable food, and low-emission equipment. The centre will also support JSW’s hospitals in implementing green hospital guidelines.
The JSW CCCH is poised to become a leading force in India’s response to the health challenges posed by climate change, working towards a healthier and more sustainable future for all.
