Colombia, Nigeria, and Cambodia are the top three nations integrating health into their national climate plan, the Global Climate and Health Alliance said in the 2026 Healthy NDCs Scorecard released on Wednesday.
The report evaluated health inclusion in Nationally Determined Contributions across 8 categories: health impacts, air pollution, health sector action, health co-benefits, just transition, integrated governance, economics and finance, and monitoring and implementation.
The GCHA said that although high-emitting economies, including the European Union, China, Brazil, and the United Kingdom, refer to health in their climate plans, they do not match it with emission-reduction targets required to protect health.
The study rated 132 countries, which submitted their 2035 climate plans to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change before August 2026, pursuant to the Paris Agreement. Notably, low- and middle-income countries secured 19 of the top 20 scores.
Colombia scored 29 from a possible 32 points, Nigeria 25, Cambodia 24, Paraguay 22, and Timor-Leste 22, emerging top five nations creating policies that would greatly protect citizens from climate change if fully implemented.
The report acknowledged Nigeria’s strong commitment to high levels of climate ambition, but noted that the West African nation and Nepal “continue to face exceptionally high rates of air pollution mortality.”
Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Paraguay were singled out for setting targets to reduce black carbon, a major driver of global heating and air pollution, contributing to severe health harms.
Japan, India, and New Zealand are among the lowest-scoring countries, with just two points each, indicating a lack of recognition of the links between climate change and human health.
Other high-emitting countries short of ten points include Australia, China, and the UK (9), Brazil (7), Russia (6), and South Korea (4), having failed to commit to their fair share of emissions reductions.
The UAE (19), Canada (16), Türkiye (14), South Africa (13), the EU (12), and Indonesia (11) all scored higher for health, but aren’t doing enough on emission control, risking worsening health impacts over time.
GCHA, a consortium of over 300 health professionals, networks, and civil society organisations, expressed concern that many countries were yet to improve air quality, protect public health, and tackle climate change.
“The human face of climate change has never been more obvious; governments must act now to integrate health,” according to Dr Nova Tebbe, research lead of the 2026 Healthy NDCs Scorecard.
Tebbe believes rapid action to address pollutants such as black carbon, methane, HFCs, and tropospheric ozone would slow the pace of global heating, future health threats, and induce health gains and cost savings.
“Governments must grasp that air quality action is a vital part of effective climate action, and that people’s health and lives are at stake with both,” said Dr Jeni Miller, GCHA Executive Director.
Miller added that ensuring the integration of health and air quality considerations into climate policy protects populations, maximises economic benefits, and builds public support for environmental protection.
Nigeria among nations integrating health in climate plan – Report