India has fallen 13 ranks to 23rd in the Climate Change Performance Index, marking its biggest decline. Despite strong renewable energy growth, a rising trend in GHG emissions and a lack of a coal phase-out plan contributed to the drop. Experts suggest reducing new coal plants and continuing renewable expansion for a better future ranking. NEW DELHI: India slipped 13 ranks to figure at the 23rd position in the latest Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), which was released by environmental think tank Germanwatch on the sidelines of the ongoing UN climate conference (COP30) in Belem, Brazil on Tuesday.It’s the biggest fall of India on the CCPI ranking in the recent past even as it remained in the top 10 high-performing countries for six years in a row till 2024. India, which ranked 31st in 2014, entered the top 10 list for the first time in 2019.EU Divided Ahead Of COP30 In Brazil; Chaos Over Climate Targets; Green Dream Falters?The annual CCPI uses a standardised framework to compare the climate performance of 63 countries and the EU, which put together, account for over 90% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The performance of countries is assessed in four categories — GHG emission, renewable energy, energy use and climate policy.India, in fact, is one of the biggest fallers in this year’s ranking despite performing well above global average in terms of increasing its renewable energy footprints. The country has, for instance, made substantial progress, achieving nearly 14% share of renewables in its total energy mix from 2015 to 2023. Besides, its non-fossil sources of energy now account for more than half of the country’s total electric power installed capacity (currently around 256 GW).What’s the reason behind India’s fall in the ranking? One of the authors of CCPI, Jan Burck of Germanwatch, attributed the decline to a combination of factors, including the steadily rising trend of the country’s GHG emissions in recent years. India, in fact, ranked last in terms of emission trends.“At the same time, energy consumption is increasing. India has also lost many places in climate policy rankings mainly due to its lack of a plan to phase out coal or even a concrete phase-out date. If India will reduce the building of new coal power plants and continue the promising trend for renewables, the country can achieve a much better ranking again next year,” said Burck.Denmark, the UK and Morocco took the lead in this year’s CCPI as fourth, fifth and sixth rankers in the list with the top three ranks remaining vacant like the previous years in absence of a perfect score to any country.China (54th), Russia (64th), the US (65th) and Saudi Arabia (67th) are the G20’s worst-performing countries, receiving an overall very low score. With Iran at 66th rank, Russia, the US and Saudi Arabia are the four last-placed countries in CCPI.Published annually by the Germanwatch, the NewClimate Institute and the Climate Action Network since 2005, the CCPI tracks countries’ efforts to combat climate change. It serves as an independent tool that tracks the climate mitigation performance of 63 countries and the EU. “It aims to enhance transparency in international climate politics and enables comparison of climate mitigation efforts and progress made by individual countries,” said the CCPI 2026 report.About the AuthorVishwa MohanVishwa Mohan is Senior Editor at The Times of India. He writes on environment, climate change, agriculture, water resources and clean energy, tracking policy issues and climate diplomacy. He has been covering Parliament since 2003 to see how politics shaped up domestic policy and India’s position at global platform. Before switching over to explore sustainable development issues, Vishwa had covered internal security and investigative agencies for more than a decade.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAnmol Bishnoi, Accused In Baba Siddique Murder Case, To Be Deported To India From USIndia-Russia Ties: EAM Jaishankar Meets President Putin In Moscow’Some Last-Mile Issues…’: Piyush Goyal Remarks On Trade Pact With EU And US, India’s Export GrowthThe Ghost Of Bastar Falls: What Madvi Hidma’s Death Means For India’s War Against Maoist InsurgencyBathani Tola: 30 years on, justice still elusive for Bihar’s worst caste massacreShashi Tharoor Praises PM Modi Again, Sparks Fresh Congress Rift After Attending Goenka Lecture’I Did Not Say…’: Prashant Kishor Takes U-Turn On Vow To Quit Politics If JDU Wins Bihar PollsIndia Will Sign Trade Deal Only When It Is ‘Fair, Equitable And Balanced’: Piyush GoyalNarayana Murthy Sparks Fresh Storm By Urging to Adopt China’s 996 Model, Work 72 Hours Every WeekIran Halts Visa Waiver For Indians Amid Criminal Exploitation And MEA Safety Warning Alerts123Photostories5 animals that are immune to toxins and poisons7 early signs of anxiety in children that parents often ignoreDeepika Padukone to Sonam Kapoor: 5 daringly stylish celeb-inspired backless blouse designsKiara Advani packs a lineup of must-see Bollywood hits you should watch right away8 underrated South Indian rice dishes perfect for a light and healthy dinner5 animals that can survivein extremely cold temperatures6 lower ab workouts to strengthen your coreThis Guava Paneer Avocado Salad has 25 gms protein and why it needs a place in daily breakfast5 natural home remedies to detoxify the liverChia seeds in water vs chia seeds in milk: Which is more beneficial for health123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodaySheikh Hasina VerdictBihar Government FormationGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingAaron Rodgers InjuryShedeur SandersPaolo BancheroStephen CurryPatrick BeverleyLeBron JamesStephen A SmithCade CunninghamDraymond GreenSophie Cunningham
NEW DELHI: India slipped 13 ranks to figure at the 23rd position in the latest Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), which was released by environmental think tank Germanwatch on the sidelines of the ongoing UN climate conference (COP30) in Belem, Brazil on Tuesday.It’s the biggest fall of India on the CCPI ranking in the recent past even as it remained in the top 10 high-performing countries for six years in a row till 2024. India, which ranked 31st in 2014, entered the top 10 list for the first time in 2019.
The annual CCPI uses a standardised framework to compare the climate performance of 63 countries and the EU, which put together, account for over 90% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The performance of countries is assessed in four categories — GHG emission, renewable energy, energy use and climate policy.India, in fact, is one of the biggest fallers in this year’s ranking despite performing well above global average in terms of increasing its renewable energy footprints. The country has, for instance, made substantial progress, achieving nearly 14% share of renewables in its total energy mix from 2015 to 2023. Besides, its non-fossil sources of energy now account for more than half of the country’s total electric power installed capacity (currently around 256 GW).
What’s the reason behind India’s fall in the ranking? One of the authors of CCPI, Jan Burck of Germanwatch, attributed the decline to a combination of factors, including the steadily rising trend of the country’s GHG emissions in recent years. India, in fact, ranked last in terms of emission trends.“At the same time, energy consumption is increasing. India has also lost many places in climate policy rankings mainly due to its lack of a plan to phase out coal or even a concrete phase-out date. If India will reduce the building of new coal power plants and continue the promising trend for renewables, the country can achieve a much better ranking again next year,” said Burck.Denmark, the UK and Morocco took the lead in this year’s CCPI as fourth, fifth and sixth rankers in the list with the top three ranks remaining vacant like the previous years in absence of a perfect score to any country.China (54th), Russia (64th), the US (65th) and Saudi Arabia (67th) are the G20’s worst-performing countries, receiving an overall very low score. With Iran at 66th rank, Russia, the US and Saudi Arabia are the four last-placed countries in CCPI.Published annually by the Germanwatch, the NewClimate Institute and the Climate Action Network since 2005, the CCPI tracks countries’ efforts to combat climate change. It serves as an independent tool that tracks the climate mitigation performance of 63 countries and the EU. “It aims to enhance transparency in international climate politics and enables comparison of climate mitigation efforts and progress made by individual countries,” said the CCPI 2026 report.
