Background

In the peri-urban landscapes of India, the urgency to tackle healthcare access and environmental sustainability has become increasingly pronounced. The converging forces of rapid urbanization and the amplifying impacts of climate change have jointly heightened the gravity of these challenges. Notably, the repercussions of climate change on public health are conspicuous, as global data points to approximately 25% of fatalities being linked to climate-related influences. Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO) foresees an unsettling projection: by 2030, climate change could usher in an additional 250,000 annual deaths, attributed to factors such as malnutrition, heat stress, and the spread of vector-borne diseases.

This intricate interplay of health and environmental predicaments accentuates the urgency for initiatives that bridge these realms. Within this context, the strategic integration of sustainable technologies emerges as a transformative tactic to counter both climate-induced health threats and disparities in healthcare access. The hallmark of these technologies lies in their dual impact, not only in mitigating environmental burdens but also in augmenting health outcomes. As an illustrative instance, the adoption of energy-efficient technologies resonates with a twofold advantage — not only do they curtail carbon emissions, but they also combat indoor air pollution, thereby fostering improved respiratory well-being. Rooted in this backdrop, the symbiotic nexus between a healthy environment and public health comes to the forefront, prompting a deliberate strategy to address these intricately entwined challenges within the peri-urban expanse.