Clean Land, Equitable Air, and Resilience (CLEAR): Advancing Health Equity by Addressing Waste-Driven Climate Risks

India has 3084 garbage dumpsites that emit Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP) and other pollutants, leading to significant health problems. Unmanaged waste in India contributes to 4% of total GHG emissions and emissions of volatile organic gases. Chronic exposure to pollutants from dumpsites contributes to respiratory issues, increased cancer risk, oxygen deprivation to vital organs, mental health issues, and reproductive impairments. Vulnerable communities like residents near dumpsites and informal waste pickers bear the brunt of such environmental degradation. India’s national regulations, complex environmental governance, and programmes like Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 promote circularity in solid waste management to address climate and health risks from dumpsites. However, the progress is slow and India’s health sector response such environmental health issues is weak. India needs comprehensive public health data on the implications of open dumpsites and its mitigation efforts. In this context, the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) proposes to undertake transdisciplinary action research aimed at 1) generating comprehensive data on environmental health, 2) strengthening the health system to improve preparedness and responsiveness to environmental issues, 3) provide support to selected States in improving solid waste management and 4) empower the vulnerable communities associated with dumpsite.