The ND-GAIN Country Index is a global ranking system that assesses countries’ vulnerability to climate change and their readiness to adapt.³⁵ It provides comparable, data-driven insights into how different nations are positioned to manage climate risks and implement adaptation strategies.

This index is particularly useful for CCH IR because:

• It highlights disparities in resilience: low-income and marginalized nations often face greater CCH risks due to weak infrastructure, limited health care access and socioeconomic vulnerabilities.
• It connects climate change to public health capacity: countries with low readiness scores are more likely to struggle with heat stress, vector-borne diseases, and food and water insecurity.
• It informs policy and intervention planning: the index helps researchers, policy-makers and development organizations prioritize adaptation efforts by identifying regions that need urgent support.

By integrating ND-GAIN data into CCH IR design, stakeholders can better understand global inequalities, assess resilience gaps and design targeted interventions that improve adaptation in the most vulnerable communities.