Lessons from the Frozen Clock
By Shreenik Kundu
Spotlight award winner
This article is the winner of the inaugural Perspectives on Global Health Spotlight Awards in the category of Climate Change
In April 2013, as a first-year medical student, I joined my cohort on a trip to Wenchuan, Sichuan, a place etched into the annals of history by the devastating earthquake of 2008. The spring warmth embraced the landscape, but beneath the budding flowers and gentle breezes lay chilling remnants of nature’s fury. Crumbling structures stood as solemn monuments, their broken windows offering silent testimonies to lives abruptly halted. Among these, a large clock sprawled lifelessly on the ground, its hands frozen in time, inscribed with the exact date and moment the earthquake struck. Each step through Wenchuan was a step back in time, guided by stories of buildings and moments forever changed.
I grappled with the realization that, despite overwhelming evidence, humanity often fails to respect and prepare for nature’s power. Our actions, unchecked urbanization, deforestation, and fossil fuel consumption, exacerbate climate change, amplifying the frequency and severity of natural disasters. The thought that our collective inaction could lead to more catastrophes weighed heavily on my mind. As an aspiring physician, I could not help but think of the countless lives that might have been spared with proper disaster preparedness.
Two days later, reflection turned into action. A magnitude seven earthquake struck Ya’an, just hours from where we stayed. The tremors that rattled Sichuan mirrored those of five years prior, but this time, something had changed. As medical students, we volunteered, our white coats barely concealing the anxiety and determination within. The hospital’s response was faster, coordination tighter, and resources more effectively deployed. Though preventable deaths still occurred, the improvements were undeniable. Many healthcare professionals, scarred by the memories of 2008, worked tirelessly, as if attempting to mend the wounds of the past through sheer will and unwavering commitment.
Six years later, during my internship at West China Hospital, the lessons of the past took form in action. Disaster preparedness drills were now part of routine hospital operations, each simulation sharpening our readiness. When another magnitude seven earthquake struck Jiuzhaigou, our response was immediate. Deaths were minimized, and the hospital transformed into a lifeline for survivors. Watching the system mobilize so quickly reinforced what I had come to understand: preparedness is not a passive concept. It is the difference between chaos and order, between loss and survival.
But earthquakes are just one piece of a much larger crisis. Climate change is driving an unprecedented increase in extreme weather events, from catastrophic hurricanes to deadly wildfires. Every year, 218 million people suffer climate-related disasters. Healthcare systems are already feeling the strain. Floods accelerate the spread of waterborne diseases, heatwaves worsen cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, and rising temperatures push vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue into new regions.
Despite the urgent need for stronger disaster preparedness, funding for global health and climate resilience is under threat. The recent USAID and American foreign aid budget cuts have stripped funding from critical global health programs, disaster relief efforts, and climate adaptation initiatives. Many lower-income countries, already struggling with fragile health systems, depend on these funds to prepare for and respond to disasters. The withdrawal of this support leaves hospitals without the necessary resources, communities without early warning systems, and health workers without training for emergency response. These cuts weaken health systems abroad and undermine global stability and increase the burden on domestic healthcare systems as climate-driven crises worsen.
During my research years, reflecting on these experiences, I saw how disaster response must be integrated with climate adaptation. The increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, the spread of climate-sensitive diseases, and the long-term health implications of environmental degradation all point to the need for a proactive and integrated response. Yet, the global response remains largely reactive. While countries are learning from past disasters, it is often only after devastation strikes. The question remains: Are we doing enough?
Many healthcare systems still lack the infrastructure and policies to withstand climate-related disasters. The healthcare sector itself contributes to 4.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which raises an urgent need for more sustainable practices within hospitals and medical institutions. While rapid response is essential, proactive measures such as early-warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, and policies integrating climate adaptation into public health frameworks will determine the scale of future devastation.
Preparedness is not a checklist or an afterthought. It is a mindset. It means anticipating disasters and responding to them. It means recognizing that climate change is a problem that is unfolding now, affecting health systems in ways that demand immediate action. Organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) have called for global shifts in disaster response strategies. In 2021, WHO released a Global Strategy on Health, Environment, and Climate Change, pushing for stronger healthcare resilience. The 2024 COP29 conference reinforced this urgency, emphasizing the need for climate-adaptive health policies at every level of governance.
Standing in the shadow of the frozen clock in Wenchuan, I am reminded of the irreversible march of time. That image serves as a stark symbol of how quickly disasters strike and how unprepared we often remain. The window to act is narrowing for the generations that will inherit the choices we make today. It is our responsibility to move beyond reaction, to anticipate, to innovate, and to work together.
As I continue my journey in medicine, the lessons from the tremors of Sichuan remain with me. They have shaped my understanding of the relationship between healthcare and the environment, and the role we play in both. I am committed to advocating for climate-resilient healthcare systems, integrating sustainability into medical practice, and ensuring that the next generation of healthcare providers understands the urgency of preparedness. The challenges ahead are enormous, but so too is our ability to adapt. By uniting efforts and sharing knowledge, we can build a future where every individual, regardless of location or privilege, has a fair chance at a healthy life.
This is a collective effort that crosses borders and disciplines, a reflection of our shared humanity. We are at a defining moment. The question is not whether disasters will come, but whether we will be ready.
The answer lies in what we do now.
Shreenik Kundu
is a physician and PhD student in Experimental Surgery at the CommiSur Lab, McGill University. His work focuses on trauma and disaster management, democratizing emergency and trauma education through virtual reality, and MedTech research and development. He is the winner of the inaugural Perspectives on Global Health Spotlight Awards in the category of Climate Change.