Enhancing Health and Climate Change Commitments in Updated Nationally Determined Contributions

This technical note aims to help countries enhance their health commitments and actions in the updated round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs). It provides seven key messages formulated from an analysis of NDCs submitted by countries of the Americas before March 2020. Each key message is accompanied by key findings of the situation, rationale, suggested actions, inspiring examples, and additional resources that PAHO, the UNFCCC, and the NDC Partnership can offer to support countries’ enhancement of health commitments in the updated round of NDCs. This technical note represents an opportunity beyond NDC processes to ensure that recovery plans in the face of COVID-19 are low carbon and climate resilient, while identifying and maximizing health-related co-benefits.