India needs an environmental health regulatory agency
Having such an agency in India, which it currently lacks, would look at the interlinked issues of climate, environment, health and the economy in a holistic way
The 2024 Conference of Parties (COP 29) ends in Baku, Azerbaijan today. As a global voice for developing countries, India will push for ambitious climate mitigation financing from developed nations. At the same time, pollutants in our air, water and land continue to pose grave health risks. According to the Emissions Gap Report 2024 from the United Nations Environment Programme, India has seen over 6% more greenhouse gas emissions than the previous year. These two examples show that India is at a critical juncture in its environmental and public health journey.

As a nation, India continues to experience rapid economic growth, so the interdependencies between climate, environment, health, and the economy are undeniable but capacities to address these issues holistically are limited. It is time for India to establish an environmental health regulatory agency (EHRA), which could lead to more comprehensive and cohesive environmental governance that focuses simultaneously on pollution control and health risk mitigation.