Climate Crises and Public Health Challenges : With a Focus on South and Southeast Asia

With almost a third of the world's population living in South and Southeast Asia, these regions are particularly vulnerable to climate catastrophes such as rising sea levels, harsh weather, and changing disease patterns. They have impacted the regions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and Goal 13 (Climate Action), which also put a burden on healthcare systems, especially among vulnerable populations.
This book explores the impact of climate change on both physical and mental health, healthcare infrastructure, and practices in these vulnerable regions, proposing strategies for resilience and preparedness. In addition, the volume offers case studies and state-of-the-art research, providing insights into the infrastructure problems and health hazards associated with climate change. The book begins with an examination of the health effects of climate change, including heatwaves, poor air quality, vector-borne diseases, psychological impacts and nutritional insecurities. The second section focuses on healthcare systems, climate-resilient facilities, supply chain adjustments, and the role of telemedicine and climate-focused public health surveillance. The final section evaluates policy responses, community resilience, and international cooperation, including financial mechanisms to support climate-resilient health systems. The book is a valuable resource for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and researchers, and it provides evidence-based insights and practical recommendations to strengthen public health frameworks against the growing climate challenges in South and Southeast Asia.

Dr. Pritam Ghosh is an Assistant Professor and HOD at the Department of Geography, Hijli College, Kharagpur, Paschim Medinipur, India and a Human Geographer with a Doctoral Degree from the University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India. His area of interest covers Medical and Health Geography, Epidemiology, Public Health. As a dedicated researcher specializing in Health Geography and Social Sciences, his work is centred around investigating the geospatial, sociocultural, and environmental dimensions of public health. His research critically examines issues like childhood malnutrition, infant feeding practices, access to water, sanitation, and hygiene, and the role of allied public policies in India. He also contributes to emerging discourses on climate change and health, particularly in South Asia. With over 35 peer-reviewed international journal articles and several book chapters to his name, Dr. Ghosh is a prolific scholar and thought leader in his field. He currently serves as an Academic Editor for PLOS ONE, Discover Social Science and Health Journal and reviews for more than 35 international journals spanning geography, public health, and the social sciences. He is also serving as an editor for several books on health geography under contract with a leading international publisher.

Dr. Soumita Banerjee is an assistant professor in the Department of Geography, Amity School of Social Sciences, Amity University, Kolkata. She earned her doctoral degree in disaster management at the Department of Geography, Jadavpur University, Kolkata. Her research interests include disaster management and urban environmental geography, focusing on the causes and socio-cultural impacts of urban hazards and disasters. Her work delves into key aspects of urban infrastructure, such as drainage systems, waste management, and community engagement. She adopts a multidisciplinary approach to advance urban environmental research, aiming to develop effective disaster management strategies and climate change adaptation policies. She received a gold medal for her master’s degree in geography from the University of Calcutta and was honored with prestigious international fellowships from DAAD and ERASMUS MUNDAS. Her scholarly output includes 11 publications spanning journals, esteemed science magazines, and an edited book.

Dr. Ranit Chatterjee is an architect-turned-disaster management professional with his Ph.D. in environmental management from Kyoto University, Japan. With over a decade of experience, he has contributed to a range of projects from architectural planning and conservation to disaster risk reduction across Asia, including India, Japan, Nepal, and Laos. His diverse career includes collaborations with UN organizations, national and local governments, the private sector, and academic institutions. He is a co-founder of Resilience Innovation Knowledge Academy (RIKA), a research-driven startup focused on generating evidence for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. He is a senior policy researcher at Keio University, Japan, and a visiting professor at Rashtriya Raksha University, India. Dr. Chatterjee is an Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) Young Scientist fellow, an IAS residential fellow at Loughborough University, a CEM member of the IUCN business and biodiversity group, and an Advisory member of UNDRR’s Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism. 

Rajib Shaw is a professor in the Graduate School of Media and Governance at Keio University, Japan. He is also a senior fellow of the Institute of Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Japan; the chairperson of the Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS) Asia and the Church World Service (CWS) Japan, two Japanese NGOs; and a co-founder of the Delhi-based social entrepreneur startup Resilience Innovation Knowledge Academy (RIKA). His expertise includes disaster governance, community-based disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, urban risk management, and disaster and environmental education. Professor Shaw was the chair of the United Nations Science Technology Advisory Group (STAG) for disaster risk reduction and currently is the co-chair of the Asia Pacific Science and Technology Academic Advisory Group (AP-STAG). He is also the coordinating lead author (CLA) for the Asia chapter’s 6th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).