Climate Change, Healthcare, and Sustainable Development in Asia

This book looks at the multiple ways in which climate change contributes negative impacts on the healthcare sector globally, posing a number of challenges to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In taking an integrative approach to the SDGs and their implementation in Asian healthcare, the book highlights the health consequences of biodiversity loss in the healthcare sector. The authors unpack how rising temperatures, extreme weather conditions, and altering rainfall patterns intensify current health-related threats that slowing progress towards SDG 3, focused on health and well-being. They delve into how disadvantaged, underserved, and marginalized populations, including the elderly, children, and low-income communities, face health risks, highlighting the need for inclusive strategies to achieve gender equality (SDG 5) and reduced inequalities (SDG 10) to promote equality movement and health equity. The book draws attention to how effective implementation and mitigation of climate change risk strategy are essential, including reducing economic inequalities (SDG 8) in rural and/or underdeveloped areas that caused the unequal distribution of healthcare resources and accelerating industry innovation (SDG 9) to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, resilient healthcare systems, and digital healthcare, thus establishing more sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11). Human health and wellness are intricately depending on biodiversity (SDG 14 and SDG 15) to provide well-functioning ecosystems, stabilize the climate, and limit diseases. The volume shows that integrating climate resilience into health policies, corporate strategy, and education planning, is essential for advancing the SDGs and safeguarding public health. Relevant to researchers and policymakers in public health, climate change, and the SDGs, this is a timely contribution to discussions on the challenges facing the SDGs implementation in Asia.