According to “A Future for the World’s Children” report released by a Commission of World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and The Lancet, India stands at 131 in flourishing index and at 77 on sustainability index.
- The report has highlighted that India has however improved on some aspects ranging from health and sanitation but it still needs to increase its health spending.
- The sustainability index takes into account per capita carbon emissions and ability of children in a nation to live healthy live.
- It has been estimated that around 250 million children under five years old in low- and middle-income countries are at risk of not reaching their developmental potential, based on proxy measures of stunting and poverty.
The Flourishing Index
- The flourishing index measures the best chance at survival and well-being for children.
- Flourishing is the geometric mean of Surviving and Thriving. For Surviving, maternal survival, survival in children younger than 5 years old, suicide, access to maternal and child health services, basic hygiene and sanitation, and lack of extreme povert were considered.
- For Thriving, educational achievement, growth and nutrition, reproductive freedom, and protection from violence factors were considered.
The Sustainability Index
The Sustainability Index ranks countries on excess carbon emissions compared with the 2030 target.
Facts
- Children in Norway, the Republic of Korea, and the Netherlands have the best chance at survival and well-being, while children in Central African Republic, Chad, Somalia, Niger and Mali face the worst odds.
- As far as per capita CO2 emissions is concerned, Norway ranked 156, the Republic of Korea 166, and the Netherlands 160. Each of the three emits 210% more CO2 per capita than their 2030 target.
- The United States of America (USA), Australia, and Saudi Arabia are among the ten worst emitters.
