India Ranks 10th in Climate Change Performance Index, Maintains Top 10 Status for Sixth Year

India has ranked 10th in the latest Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), slipping three places from its 7th position last year. Despite this slight decline, the country has maintained its presence among the top 10 high-performing nations for the sixth consecutive year. The achievement is largely credited to its low per capita greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and a robust commitment to renewable energy expansion. The CCPI report, released during the UN climate conference COP29, offers a comprehensive assessment of global climate action, shedding light on India’s leadership and the obstacles it must overcome.

Assessing Global Climate Action

Published by Germanwatch, the New Climate Institute, and the Climate Action Network International, the CCPI evaluates the climate action of 63 countries and the European Union, accounting for over 90% of global emissions. The rankings consider performance across four parameters: GHG emissions, renewable energy adoption, energy efficiency, and climate policy. While the top three spots remain unoccupied due to the absence of any nation achieving a “very high” rating, countries like Denmark, the Netherlands, and the UK secured the fourth, fifth, and sixth positions, respectively.

India’s ranking reflects its continued focus on addressing climate change, despite being the third-largest GHG emitter and one of the fastest-growing economies. Its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and a target of 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030 underscore its ambitions on the global stage.

The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) evaluates countries based on standardized criteria across four categories, comprising 14 indicators. These categories and their respective weights in the overall score are: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (40%), Renewable Energy (20%), Energy Use (20%), and Climate Policy (20%).

India’s Strengths: Low Emissions and Renewable Energy Growth

India’s relatively low per capita emissions—2.9 tons of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e), far below the global average of 6.6 tCO2e—remain a significant factor in its high ranking. The country’s rapid deployment of renewable energy has also garnered attention. Over the past decade, India has emerged as a global leader in green energy, consistently expanding its solar and wind energy capacities.

“Renewables have expanded rapidly over the last decade, and India aspires to play a leading role in green energy on the global stage,” the CCPI report noted. This progress positions India as a model for developing economies seeking sustainable growth pathways.

Challenges: Coal Dependency and Energy Efficiency Gaps

Despite its successes, India faces notable challenges. The country’s heavy reliance on coal—one of the largest contributors to GHG emissions—poses a significant obstacle to achieving its climate goals. India is among the 10 nations with the largest developed coal reserves and has plans to increase coal production to meet its growing energy demands.

The report also highlighted gaps in energy efficiency standards. Although India has introduced measures to enhance energy efficiency, their implementation remains uneven. Expanding coverage and ensuring adherence to these standards will be critical for reducing energy consumption and emissions. 

Electric vehicle (EV) adoption has been another area of progress. India has made strides in promoting EVs, particularly in the two-wheeler segment, which dominates the country’s transportation sector. However, broader adoption of EVs across all vehicle categories will require enhanced infrastructure and policy support.

India Among High-Performing G20 Nations

India’s climate leadership is particularly significant within the context of the G20. Alongside the UK, it is one of the only two G20 nations categorized as high performers in the CCPI. In stark contrast, major economies like the US, China, and Australia received low or very low rankings.

China, the world’s largest emitter, ranked 55th, while the US, the second-largest emitter, stood at 57th. Both nations were criticized for their continued dependence on coal and inadequate climate targets. At the bottom of the index were oil-dependent nations, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Russia, reflecting their minimal investments in renewable energy and persistent reliance on fossil fuels.

The Global Call for Action

The CCPI report emphasizes the urgency of accelerating climate action worldwide. The absence of top-ranked countries underscores a global gap in ambition and implementation. The report warns against the influence of fossil fuel lobbies, which continue to hinder progress in many nations.

“There is still massive resistance from the fossil fuel lobby. Countries should not fall deeper into the fossil trap,” said Jan Burck, lead author of the CCPI from Germanwatch. The report calls for stronger commitments, particularly in renewable energy adoption and energy efficiency, to meet global climate targets.

References:

CCPI 2025: Ranking and Results

https://www.weforum.org/stories/2022/09/net-zero-challenges-india-target

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211467X24000865

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57018837

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/indias-emissions-rose-by-6-1-in-2023-9637311

Banner Image: CCPI https://ccpi.org/