India, Nov. 21 -- As COP30 comes to an end and government representatives lay out their positions and commitments, as a doctor and humanitarian aid worker I am keenly anticipating the acknowledgement of an undeniable truth: There is no health justice without climate justice. These two are inextricably linked, and ignoring this connection will only deepen our suffering, particularly those who endure the most of both climate change and systemic neglect in forms of structural violence and health care access issues.

South Asia is already witnessing the devastating health impacts of climate change. In 2024, the average Indian experienced nearly 20 heatwave days, with 6.5 of those days directly attributable to climate change. In 2024, extreme ...