Climate crisis and health, and AI at the intersection

Last week, New Delhi buzzed with the AI Impact Summit, promising real-world results over abstract discussions.

- Roxy Mathew Koll

Yet, the robo-dog spectacle at the summit stole the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, reminding us that India needs less theatrics and more substance. For India, the real issue is not what impresses on stage, but what actually saves lives and livelihoods.Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) step in to prevent the wave of deaths and diseases looming over the next few months?

The heat season is already tightening its grip across much of the country and will intensify from March to early June. This will be followed by the monsoon rains that unleash dengue and other mosquitoand waterborne diseases. Year after year, these dangers return, and the climate crisis is making it worse. Though we have enough warnings, we simply lack the readiness to tackle these disasters thatare obviously waiting in front of us.

Disaster management should not wait fora disaster to strike. Itshould start well in advance through proactive planning, targeted forecasts, and swift local action. Despite the rollout of climate and heat action plans, too many municipalities still treat heat and dengue like surprise visitors each year, struggling to respond only after the damage is done. Water tankers roll outafter the first deaths, fogging starts after cases surge, and hospitals rush to catch up when they should be staying ahead. This is not a strategy or informed action —it is a desperate reaction.

So, what should an Al-enabled early warning system for climate and health look like in India?

The answer starts with heat because itis our most urgent and deadly threat. While some cities have heat action plans, improved public messaging, cooling centres, and access to drinking water, heat deaths keep climbing. This is because heat has become an annual affair instead of an occasional crisis.