Healthcare leaders, policymakers, medical professionals, and sustainability experts from India and across the Commonwealth convened at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre for the Global Summit on Climate Change Mitigation – Healthcare Perspective. The summit was organised by the Commonwealth Medical Association and hosted by the Indian Medical Association, Tamil Nadu State Branch.

The summit focused on strengthening climate-resilient healthcare systems through policy, governance, infrastructure, education, and clinical practice, highlighting the direct and growing impact of climate change on public health and healthcare delivery.

Delivering the keynote address, Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, Judicial Member of the National Green Tribunal and Chief Guest of the summit, underscored the urgent need for institutional responsibility. She stated that climate change is a direct threat to public health and called upon healthcare institutions to lead with accountability, ethical governance, and responsible environmental practices. She also noted that summits of this nature play a critical role in translating policy intent into actionable outcomes.

Speaking on the role of academic institutions in addressing climate challenges, Dr. Nitin M. Nagarkar, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Medical & Health Sciences), SRM Institute of Science and Technology, emphasised that healthcare education cannot be isolated from climate realities. He highlighted the importance of embedding sustainability into medical education, research, and practice to prepare future healthcare leaders for climate-resilient health systems.

The summit featured expert panels and interdisciplinary sessions on green hospital practices, climate-smart infrastructure, governance, leadership, and global best practices. It concluded with a collective policy commitment and a strong call for sustained collaboration to translate dialogue into measurable action towards resilient and sustainable healthcare systems.