India has slipped from seventh to 10th place in the latest Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), a report released at the UN climate conference on Wednesday. Despite this drop, India remains among the top 10 high-performing countries for the sixth consecutive year. This is mainly due to its low per capita emissions and rapid deployment of renewable energy.
The report, which assesses the climate action of the world’s largest emitters, leaves the top three spots empty, as no country achieved a “very high” rating. Denmark, the Netherlands, and the UK ranked fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively.
Published by think tanks Germanwatch, New Climate Institute, and Climate Action Network International, the CCPI evaluates countries on their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, renewable energy use, energy efficiency, and climate policy.
Of the 63 countries and the EU assessed, which together account for over 90 per cent of global emissions, India stood out for its relatively low per capita emissions and low energy use, various reports stated.
“While India is the world’s most populous country, it has relatively low per capita emissions and low energy use,” the report noted.“Renewables have expanded rapidly over the last decade, and India aspires to play a leading role in green energy on the global stage.”
India’s per capita emissions stand at 2.9 tons of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e), well below the global average of 6.6 tCO2e. The country, which is the third-largest greenhouse gas emitter and the fastest-growing major economy, has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and aims to reach 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
The report emphasised that while India has made strides in energy efficiency and electric vehicle deployment, its dependence on coal remains a significant challenge. “Energy efficiency standards have been introduced, but their coverage remains inadequate,” it said.“India is also advancing in electric vehicle deployment, especially with two-wheelers.”
The report highlighted India’s continued reliance on coal. “India is among the 10 countries with the largest developed coal reserves and is currently planning to increase its production,” the experts stated.
Among the G20 nations, India and the UK are the only countries ranked as high performers. However, many other G20 nations, including the US, China, Canada, and Australia, received low or very low rankings. The report noted that 14 G20 countries, including the US, China, and Canada, are among the worst performers.
China, the world’s largest emitter, ranked 55th, while the US, the second-largest emitter, remained in 57th place. Both countries are heavily reliant on coal, and their climate targets remain insufficient, according to the report.
Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Russia occupied the four lowest spots in the CCPI, with rankings of 67th, 66th, 65th, and 64th, respectively. These countries, all major oil and gas producers, continue to have a minimal share of renewables in their energy mix, with their fossil fuel dependence showing no signs of shifting.
Despite the challenges, the report acknowledged the rapid progress in renewable energy, particularly in the electricity sector, and called for stronger action to avoid falling further into the “fossil trap.”
“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.
With inputs from agencies.
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India loses three paces on climate index but stays a high performer for 6th year
