Introduction
  • India has dropped 13 places and now stands at 23rd position in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2026.
  • The report was released by Germanwatch, during the COP30 climate conference in Belem, Brazil.
  • India had been in the top 10 high-performing countries for six consecutive years (2019–2024). This is India’s biggest fall in recent years.

ABOUT CCPI

  • First published in 2005.
  • Prepared by Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute, and Climate Action Network.
  • Tracks climate action performance of 63 countries plus the European Union, covering over 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The index compares performance in four categories:
CCPI Category Meaning
GHG Emissions How much greenhouse gases a country emits
Renewable Energy Use and growth of clean energy
Energy Use How efficiently a country uses energy
Climate Policy Government policies for climate protection

INDIA’S PERFORMANCE

Positive points:

  • India is performing above global average in renewable energy.
  • Renewable energy share increased from 2015 to 2023, reaching nearly 14% of total energy mix.
  • More than half of India’s electric power capacity (256 GW) is now from non-fossil sources.

REASONS FOR INDIA’S RANKING DECLINE

Reason for Fall Explanation
Rising GHG emissions Emissions have increased steadily; India ranks last in emission trends
High energy use Energy consumption is increasing rapidly
Weak climate policy No clear plan to phase out coal or stop building new coal plants
No coal exit date India has not set a coal phase-out deadline
One of the CCPI authors, Jan Burck, said India can improve its future ranking if it
limits coal expansion and continues strong growth in renewable energy.

GLOBAL RANKING HIGHLIGHTS

  • Top three positions are vacant (no country scored high enough).
  • Denmark (4th), United Kingdom (5th), Morocco (6th) are leading.
  • Worst performers among G20:
    • China – 54th
    • Russia – 64th
    • United States – 65th
    • Saudi Arabia – 67th (last in list)
CLIMATE CHANGE PERFORMANCE INDEX (CCPI) explained for UPSC AIM OF CCPI The purpose of the CCPI is to:
  • Increase transparency in global climate action
  • Compare how countries are performing in fighting climate change
  • Help countries understand where they need to improve.