Developing locally tailored solutions to protect communities from the combined health risks of heat and air pollution.
Combined Impact of Heat and Air Pollution Exposure on Human Health in India: Evidence and Solutions (COPE) is one of the projects funded under the Belmont Forum’s Climate, Environment, and Health (CEH2). The project is developing advanced Early Warning and Decision-Support Systems (EWDS) to help communities and decision-makers respond to the combined health risks associated with heat and air pollution.
Addressing Combined Health Risks
Heat and air pollution can pose significant risks to human health, particularly for vulnerable populations in densely populated urban areas. COPE focuses on the urban conglomerates of Delhi and Kolkata, India, where the project seeks to better understand how exposure to these environmental stressors affects health.
The project combines climate models, health surveys, and hospital data to identify health risk hotspots and develop projections for future climate scenarios. This evidence will help improve understanding of where and when communities may face heightened health risks.
Co-Designing Solutions with Communities
A key feature of COPE is its collaborative and participatory approach. The project works with vulnerable communities, healthcare providers, and governance stakeholders to co-design Early Warning and Decision-Support Systems that respond to local needs.
Rather than relying solely on generic recommendations, COPE aims to develop tailored response strategies and adaptive measures that can support more effective action in specific urban contexts.
From Evidence to Action
By connecting scientific evidence with local knowledge and decision-making, COPE aims to strengthen preparedness and support timely responses to heat and air pollution exposure.
The project also brings together a multidisciplinary team from India, Norway, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Netherlands, alongside key Indian governmental agencies. This international collaboration supports the development, implementation, and potential scaling of the Early Warning and Decision-Support Systems.
Through its focus on evidence, collaboration, and locally relevant solutions, COPE contributes to the broader goals of the CEH2 CRA: advancing research that connects environmental conditions and human health while supporting practical approaches for healthier and more resilient communities.