JSW Centre for Climate Change and Health Launched at PHFI

In a major step toward addressing the growing intersection of climate change and public health, JSW Foundation and the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) have launched the JSW Centre for Climate Change and Health (JSW CCCH). Located at the PHFI Headquarters in Delhi NCR, this pioneering initiative aims to support India’s efforts under the National Program for Climate Change and Human Health, while bridging critical gaps in training, research, and policy to build a climate-resilient health system.

A Timely Response to a Growing Crisis

Climate change is no longer a distant environmental issue—it is a pressing public health emergency. From rising heatwaves to the spread of vector-borne diseases, the health impacts are already visible across India.

Sangita Jindal, Chairperson of JSW Foundation, emphasized the urgency:

“Health impacts of climate change are increasingly evident, and it is our responsibility to build a robust framework that can anticipate, respond to, and mitigate these challenges. The JSW Centre is our commitment to a healthier and more sustainable future for all.”

Prof. Sanjay Zodpey, President of PHFI, echoed the sentiment:

“This Centre will help India adapt and respond to climate-health threats by strengthening our health systems, communities, and policy framework in line with the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change.”

What the JSW Centre Will Do

The JSW CCCH will work across several strategic areas to build climate resilience in public health:

🔹 Capacity Building

Specialized training programs will be developed for healthcare workers, public health professionals, and policymakers to equip them with climate-health expertise.

🔹 Research & Innovation

Evidence-based studies will focus on the health impacts of climate change, including air pollution, heat stress, food insecurity, and the rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs). These insights will help design scalable health interventions.

🔹 Public Awareness & Knowledge Sharing

From community workshops to educational materials for media and youth, the Centre aims to raise climate-health literacy across the board.

🔹 Policy Advocacy

By converting research findings into actionable policy briefs and hosting roundtables, the Centre will help shape national and state-level climate-health strategies.

🔹 Global and Domestic Collaborations

Strong partnerships with leading institutions—both in India and abroad—will ensure knowledge exchange and shared innovation.

🔹 Domain Focus Areas

The Centre will delve deep into:

• Heat-related illnesses

• Extreme weather impacts (cyclones, floods)

• Resilience in healthcare infrastructure

• Climate impacts on food and nutrition

• A One-Health and Planetary Health approach to managing zoonotic diseases and pandemics

🔹 Decarbonising Healthcare

One of its most innovative focus areas, the Centre will assist hospitals (starting with JSW’s own network) in implementing green hospital guidelines, including:

• Clean energy adoption

• Sustainable procurement

• Low-emission medical equipment

• Waste management best practices

Shaping India’s Climate-Health Future

The launch of the JSW CCCH marks a significant milestone in India’s climate action journey, particularly in recognizing and responding to health as a frontline issue. By combining grassroots implementation with high-level policy engagement, the Centre is poised to be a trailblazer in sustainable public health innovation.

Whether you’re a policymaker, healthcare worker, student, or concerned citizen, the work of the JSW Centre for Climate Change and Health offers hope—and direction—in navigating the climate challenges ahead.