Climate justice and healthcare: a call for critical thinking and collective action

On 15 October 2025, I hosted a compelling lecture as part of a series on climate change and health and healthcare from Dr Chamu Kuppuswamy. Dr Kuppuswamy invited participants to explore the intersection of climate justice and healthcare through the lens of law, equity, and global responsibility. Her talk was not just informative – it was a call to action.

Understanding climate justice through law

Dr Kuppuswamy began by framing climate justice as a legal and ethical imperative. While justice is often invoked in protests and media, she emphasized the importance of systematic legal thinking to understand and address injustice. Climate change, she argued, acts as a 'threat multiplier', exacerbating existing vulnerabilities – especially in healthcare.

From deteriorating air quality and the spread of disease-carrying insects, to heatwaves and extreme weather events, climate change is reshaping the health landscape. One poignant example she shared was the KlimaSeniorinnen v. Switzerland case, where older women successfully challenged their government’s inaction on climate change at the European Court of Human Rights.

Heatwaves and the law: a case study

Using heatwaves as a case study, Dr Kuppuswamy examined how UK law – specifically the Health and Safety at Work Act – addresses workplace risks. Employers are legally obligated to assess and mitigate risks, including those posed by climate change. However, the law’s language ("as far as reasonably practicable") leaves room for interpretation, raising questions about the adequacy of current protections.

She highlighted the need for individual risk assessments, especially for vulnerable employees, and connected this to the Equality Act 2010, which mandates non-discrimination across nine protected characteristics, including age, disability, and pregnancy.

Climate justice as non-discrimination

Climate justice in healthcare, Dr Kuppuswamy explained, means recognising and addressing disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations. This includes:

• Ensuring equitable access to healthcare services.
• Building climate-resilient infrastructure.
• Reducing the healthcare sector’s environmental footprint.

She cited research showing that women and girls face heightened risks from climate-related disasters, including increased maternal health risks and gender-based violence. Institutions like the NHS are beginning to respond, but more agile and inclusive planning is needed.

Infrastructure and institutional response

Dr Kuppuswamy stressed the importance of capital investment in healthcare infrastructure to withstand climate risks. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has called for such investments, especially in maternity care. She also emphasised the need for workforce training to identify and support patients vulnerable to climate impacts.

Climate justice at the global level

Zooming out, Dr Kuppuswamy discussed climate justice between nations. The principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" – enshrined in international law since the 1992 Earth Summit – recognises that while all nations share responsibility, wealthier and historically higher-emitting countries must do more.

She pointed to the plight of Seychelles, a low-lying island nation facing existential threats from rising seas, and raised provocative questions about sovereignty, climate refugees, and international compensation.

Questions that matter

The Q&A session brought thoughtful reflections from attendees. Questions ranged from gender equity in climate research to the overwhelming scale of global climate action. Dr Kuppuswamy responded with clarity and optimism, emphasizing the growing legal obligations, international cooperation, and the importance of community resilience.

A way forward

I concluded the session by summarising the key takeaways: climate change affects populations differently, and climate justice requires both policy reform and infrastructural transformation. It is not a one-off fix, it demands collective, sustained action at individual, institutional, and global levels.

Dr Rhyddhi Chakraborty, Senior Lecturer in Public Health and Leadership, School of Allied Health and Social Care