(SDNA) India Scores Just 2 Out of 32 on Climate and Health: Air Pollution Concerns Intensify

GCHA’s Healthy NDC Scorecard highlights major gaps in India’s climate commitments, raising questions over air quality, public health protection, climate finance and accountability

(SDNA) New Delhi. India has scored just 2 out of a possible 32 points in the Healthy Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Scorecard released by the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA) on October 14, 2026. The assessment highlights significant gaps in the integration of public health and air pollution concerns into national climate strategies, underlining the need to treat climate action and human well-being as interconnected priorities.

Climate change is no longer simply an environmental challenge marked by rising temperatures, erratic rainfall and extreme weather events. Its consequences increasingly extend to respiratory health, healthcare systems, food security and the overall quality of life. The scorecard examines whether governments are incorporating these health consequences into their climate commitments and translating them into meaningful policy action.

GCHA represents more than 300 health professional organisations and civil society groups working at the intersection of climate change and health.

Eight policy areas form the basis of assessment

Under the Paris Agreement, countries submit Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, outlining their climate commitments and proposed measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Healthy NDC Scorecard evaluates whether these plans also address the health risks associated with climate change.

The assessment covered 132 countries that had submitted their 2035 climate plans before August 1, 2026, including the European Union’s collective submission. Eight categories were assessed, with each category carrying a maximum of four points and the overall score capped at 32.

The evaluation covered climate-related health impacts, air pollution, the role of the health sector, health co-benefits of climate action, a just transition, cross-government coordination, financial resources and implementation, monitoring and accountability.

The results indicate that several countries continue to treat climate policy largely as an emissions-management exercise rather than a broader strategy to protect human health.

India receives zero in six of eight categories

According to the report, India’s NDC was published on April 24, 2026. The country received one point each for health-sector action and integrated governance, but scored zero in the remaining six categories.

The overall score of two points raises concerns about how comprehensively India’s climate planning addresses the health consequences of environmental change. The assessment points to areas requiring greater attention, including health-impact evaluation, pollution reduction, equitable access to cleaner energy, climate finance and effective implementation.

India’s score was comparable to those of Japan and New Zealand, which also received two points each. The findings suggest that integrating public health into climate commitments remains a significant policy challenge, even in countries with substantial economic and technological capabilities.

Air pollution remains a major public health challenge

Air pollution is one of India’s most pressing environmental health concerns. Citing figures from the State of Global Air, the report puts India’s air-pollution-related mortality rate at 186.2 deaths per 100,000 people.

Despite this burden, the scorecard states that India’s national climate commitment does not explicitly mention air pollution. This omission raises questions about whether the health costs of polluted air are being adequately incorporated into the country’s climate planning.

The consequences of air pollution extend beyond respiratory illness. Exposure to polluted air is associated with a range of serious health risks, while premature deaths and reduced productivity place additional pressure on households, healthcare systems and the wider economy.

The report also cites Climate Action Tracker assessments indicating that the emissions-reduction targets of India and Japan are not aligned with the Paris Agreement’s objectives. It argues that more ambitious emissions reductions, combined with stronger health protections, are essential to reducing the risks faced by communities.

Developing countries lead the scorecard

The results show that several low- and middle-income countries performed considerably better than many major economies.

Colombia ranked first with 29 points, followed by Nigeria with 25 and Cambodia with 24. Paraguay and Timor-Leste each scored 22 points. According to GCHA, 19 of the 20 highest-ranked countries were low- or middle-income economies.

GCHA Policy Lead Jess Beagley said the performance of these countries demonstrates that climate change and public health cannot realistically be addressed in isolation. For many developing nations, pollution, extreme weather and health vulnerabilities are closely connected challenges that directly affect people’s daily lives.

Among other major economies, South Korea scored four points, Russia six and Brazil seven. Australia, China and the United Kingdom each received nine points.

The report argues that weak performance among major emitting economies highlights the need for stronger climate commitments and more effective integration of health priorities into national policy.

Black carbon and other climate pollutants need urgent action

The scorecard calls for stronger measures to curb pollutants such as black carbon, methane, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and tropospheric ozone. These pollutants contribute to climate change, deteriorate air quality and pose risks to human health.

Only five countries—Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and Paraguay—set targets for reducing black carbon emissions, according to the report. India was not among them.

GCHA Research Lead Dr. Nova Tebe said action on short-lived climate pollutants could help slow near-term warming, deliver relatively rapid health benefits and generate economic savings.

However, reductions in these pollutants cannot replace the need for deep and sustained cuts in carbon dioxide emissions. Both immediate pollution-control measures and long-term decarbonisation are necessary to limit global warming and protect public health.

Pollution imposes economic costs, while funding remains inadequate

The economic consequences of air pollution are substantial. Poor air quality contributes to premature mortality, lost productivity and increased pressure on healthcare services. The report cites estimates suggesting that the health impacts of air pollution and associated productivity losses affect approximately 5% of global GDP.

Yet funding for cleaner air remains limited. According to the State of Global Air Quality Funding Report, less than one per cent of development finance has been directed towards improving outdoor air quality.

GCHA emphasises that ambitious climate commitments must be supported by adequate financial resources. Developing countries, in particular, need greater access to climate finance and international assistance to implement effective policies.

Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement establishes the responsibility of developed countries to provide financial resources to assist developing countries with climate mitigation and adaptation. The report underscores the importance of meeting these obligations to ensure that climate action is both effective and equitable.

Health benefits must extend beyond climate adaptation

Climate policy often focuses on adaptation—preparing communities and infrastructure for the effects of a changing climate. However, the report argues that health protection must also be integrated into measures designed to reduce emissions and improve environmental conditions.

GCHA Project Analyst Tola Klaboe noted that the relationship between climate change and health is frequently viewed through the narrow lens of adaptation. In reality, reducing emissions, improving air quality and expanding access to cleaner energy can generate substantial health benefits.

Ignoring these co-benefits could increase pressure on healthcare systems and make the future costs of climate-related damage considerably higher.

The report points to events such as floods in Nepal, food insecurity in Africa, severe heatwaves in Europe and the United States, and wildfires in Canada as examples of the growing health consequences of climate change.

These developments reinforce the need for climate strategies that protect vulnerable populations while reducing the underlying drivers of global warming.

COP31 offers an opportunity to strengthen climate and health priorities

The upcoming COP31 climate conference is viewed in the report as an opportunity to strengthen international cooperation on climate finance, emissions reduction and public health.

Greater coordination between governments, health institutions and climate policymakers could help ensure that national commitments deliver measurable benefits for communities. Improved financial support for developing countries will also be crucial to translating climate pledges into practical outcomes.

GCHA Executive Director Dr. Jeni Miller said incorporating health and air quality into climate policy can improve public protection while delivering economic benefits. Highlighting these benefits may also help build broader public support for stronger climate action.

Conclusion: Climate policy must put people’s health at its centre

India’s score of two out of 32 is more than a low ranking in an international assessment. It highlights the need to give greater weight to public health, air pollution control, financial planning and accountability in the country’s climate strategy.

A comprehensive response to climate change must go beyond setting emissions targets. It must also address the quality of the air people breathe, the resilience of healthcare systems and the protection of communities exposed to environmental risks.

The central challenge for policymakers is to ensure that climate action delivers tangible improvements in both environmental sustainability and human well-being.

For India, integrating health protection into climate planning could be a critical step towards cleaner air, stronger public health safeguards and a more sustainable future.

— SDNA | Trust • Truth • News