Climate Change Impacts and Implications: An Indian Perspective
17
(Sebastian and Kaaya 2018). Bleaching of coral reefs due to the increase in sea surface temperature (SST) of > 1 °C has been very well known (Kumagai and Yamano
2018). One of the most widespread coral bleaching worldwide, including in the
Indian coral reefs, occurred during 1997–98 when SSTs increased by an average of
3 °C in the Indian Ocean in conjunction with a major El Nino event (Sum 2016). It
was estimated that the 1997–98 El Niño event alone had caused the bleaching of 16%
of the world‘s coral reefs (World Bank 2007). Enhanced SST during the 1997/98 El
Niño event affected the marine ecosystems, including fishery and coral bleaching,
while enhanced air temperature affected terrestrial ecosystems, public health and air
quality due to the production of photochemical smog under strong sunlight (Sum
2016). Bleaching also sets the stage for other decline in reef health, such as increment in the coral diseases, breakdown of reef framework by bio eroders and the loss
of critical habitat for the associated biota (Baker et al. 2008). Increased ocean acidification, via increased absorption of CO 2 by seawater has reduced the capacity of
coral reefs to grow and maintain their structure and function (Spillman et al. 2011).
7 Impacts on Human Health
Climate change impacts on health is one of the important determinants for the assessment of total costs of climate change to enhance the understanding of weather and
climate’s effects on socio-economic sectors (Confalonieri et al. 2007). The health
risks associated with climate change are on the rise worldwide (UN 2017) and thereby
worsening the existing health threats and creating new public health challenges
(NOAA 2016). Changes in the climatic conditions have been predicted to cause more
heat stress, an increment in waterborne diseases, poor air quality, extreme weather
events and a rise in the transmittance of diseases by insects and rodents (USGCRP
2016) which is ultimately going to impact the human health. Based on the present
day sensitivity to heat, an increment of about thousands to tens of thousands in premature heat-related deaths in the summer and a decline in the premature cold-related
deaths in the winter has been projected as a result of climate change by the end of
the century (USGCRP 2016).
Climate change effects on human health in India are a broad topic, covering
areas from extreme weather events to shifts in vector-borne diseases. Floods create
conducive environments for numerous health consequences resulting from disease
transmission. In South Asia, scientists predict an increased frequency of floods in
mountainous regions in the coming days due to greater intensity of rainfall events and
glacier lake outburst (Cruz et al. 2007). Floods resulting from monsoon rains killed
more than 2000 persons and displaced more than 20 million people in Bangladesh,
India, and Nepal during 2007 (Bajracharya et al. 2006). Rising sea-surface temperatures are expected to increase tropical cyclone intensity and the height of storm surges
(Ali 1999). Although cyclones originating in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea
have decreased in frequency since 1970, these have increased in intensity, causing
significant damage in India and Bangladesh (Lal et al. 2001). Public health effects
17
(Sebastian and Kaaya 2018). Bleaching of coral reefs due to the increase in sea surface temperature (SST) of > 1 °C has been very well known (Kumagai and Yamano
2018). One of the most widespread coral bleaching worldwide, including in the
Indian coral reefs, occurred during 1997–98 when SSTs increased by an average of
3 °C in the Indian Ocean in conjunction with a major El Nino event (Sum 2016). It
was estimated that the 1997–98 El Niño event alone had caused the bleaching of 16%
of the world‘s coral reefs (World Bank 2007). Enhanced SST during the 1997/98 El
Niño event affected the marine ecosystems, including fishery and coral bleaching,
while enhanced air temperature affected terrestrial ecosystems, public health and air
quality due to the production of photochemical smog under strong sunlight (Sum
2016). Bleaching also sets the stage for other decline in reef health, such as increment in the coral diseases, breakdown of reef framework by bio eroders and the loss
of critical habitat for the associated biota (Baker et al. 2008). Increased ocean acidification, via increased absorption of CO 2 by seawater has reduced the capacity of
coral reefs to grow and maintain their structure and function (Spillman et al. 2011).
7 Impacts on Human Health
Climate change impacts on health is one of the important determinants for the assessment of total costs of climate change to enhance the understanding of weather and
climate’s effects on socio-economic sectors (Confalonieri et al. 2007). The health
risks associated with climate change are on the rise worldwide (UN 2017) and thereby
worsening the existing health threats and creating new public health challenges
(NOAA 2016). Changes in the climatic conditions have been predicted to cause more
heat stress, an increment in waterborne diseases, poor air quality, extreme weather
events and a rise in the transmittance of diseases by insects and rodents (USGCRP
2016) which is ultimately going to impact the human health. Based on the present
day sensitivity to heat, an increment of about thousands to tens of thousands in premature heat-related deaths in the summer and a decline in the premature cold-related
deaths in the winter has been projected as a result of climate change by the end of
the century (USGCRP 2016).
Climate change effects on human health in India are a broad topic, covering
areas from extreme weather events to shifts in vector-borne diseases. Floods create
conducive environments for numerous health consequences resulting from disease
transmission. In South Asia, scientists predict an increased frequency of floods in
mountainous regions in the coming days due to greater intensity of rainfall events and
glacier lake outburst (Cruz et al. 2007). Floods resulting from monsoon rains killed
more than 2000 persons and displaced more than 20 million people in Bangladesh,
India, and Nepal during 2007 (Bajracharya et al. 2006). Rising sea-surface temperatures are expected to increase tropical cyclone intensity and the height of storm surges
(Ali 1999). Although cyclones originating in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea
have decreased in frequency since 1970, these have increased in intensity, causing
significant damage in India and Bangladesh (Lal et al. 2001). Public health effects