India has been ranked among the top 10 best climate performers globally even as the country has slipped two ranks in the latest Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) FY 2025. Launched at the UN climate summit, the report reveals the efforts made by India to address the challenges of climate change telling about its low carbon per capita and the fast-growing share of renewable energy sources.
The country emerged 10th out of 63 nations in measures towards climate change. The CCPI published by think tank Germanwatch, New Climate Institute, and Climate Action Network International rates the countries according to the quantity of their emissions, the provinces of renewable energy, and their climate policies. In overall rating, India has slipped two positions as compared to the one that it achieved last year, still it is among the topmost rank.
Major advantage of India is that it has one of the lowest per capita emissions in the world. Currently per capita emissions are 2.9 tCO2e, which is much lower than the global average of 6.6 tCO2e. This is because India has large population and the level of energy consumption per head of population is comparatively low.
Second, India has been one of the world’s quickest-growing renewable energy markets in recent years. Although it was late to the genre, India has shown commendable improvement in terms of adding renewable power capacity over the past decade mainly in solar power. The country has commissioned utility-scale solar plants and the Rooftop Solar Scheme to generate 500GW of RE by 2030.
However, the CCPI report also points out that drastic shifts in the climate change policy of India will remain elusive. The report highlights that India's growth-oriented approach to climate action is expected to continue or intensify, driven by rising energy demand from industry and the growing population. India largely depends on coal and according to the report the country is looking forward to producing more of coal to meet its energy demands.
The CCPI report leaves the first three places blank as no country met explicitly high average standards across the different index subcategories. The next country in the ranking is Denmark, taking the fourth position with the Netherlands and Great Britain. China and the US, being the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases are ranked 55 and 57, respectively.
Key Highlights of Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2025
The CCPI 2025 provides a comprehensive analysis of the climate change action initiative of 63 nations, representing more than 90% of current global emissions. Released during the annual UN climate conference, the report evaluates and ranks countries based on their performance in four main categories: greenhouse gases, renewable energy, energy demand, and climate change policy. Here are the key highlights of the CCPI 2025 report:
- Outstanding Achievers and the Empty top spots: For the second year in a row the no country on the CCPI occupy the three top positions, and managed to get the high scores to become a leader in the index. This goes to show that even those in the top list still have much they need to do on their climate interventions. Denmark holds its place on the top of the list where it is ranked fourth, and the Netherlands and the United Kingdom afterword. These countries are defined by having strong climate targets, large amounts of capital committed to green energy and, in general, their attempts to decrease their carbon intensity.
- India's Performance: India has slipped two ranks from last year’s eighth position and still remains among one of the best performers. The report also appreciates the relatively low emission per capita that is at 2.9 tCO2e, compared to the global emission of 6.6 tCO2e. Commitment to development of renewable energy sources and large scale solar power projects in India is identified to be its strength. That is why the goal to build 500 GW of renewable energy production capacities by 2030 proves that the country is committed to a sustainable future.
- China and the United States: The two highest emitters of CO2 in the world, China and the United States, are listed here at 55th and 57th positions all the more requiring urgent attention. It takes the two countries to task over their high absolute emissions and over their slow progress toward de-carbonization. But it also takes recent changes in policy in the United States, including the Inflation Reduction Act, into account which could prompt them to step up their climate efforts in the future.
- European Union’s Leadership: EU remains a leader in climate change, and several countries in the EU have high rankings on the index quantify that countries like Sweden, Finland, and Portugal are ambitiously implementing and advancing climate change policies, for having high shares of renewable energy and for striving towards its cut in emissions. The EU’s Green Deal and the Fit for 55 package are presented as key interventions that are powering the climate goals of the bloc.
- Emerging Economies: Newly industrialized countries, such as India, Brazil, and South Africa, are on a particular scale of development. Brazil, which has slipped in rankings due to deforestation and weakening environmental policies, illustrates the challenges these countries face in balancing economic growth with environmental protection. Despite some achievements in renewable power investments, South Africa remains hostage to its COAL dependency.
- Climate Policy Assessments: Policies on climate change are highlighted in the CCPI report because the legislation and its enforcement are hugely important for the achievement of long-term goals. Denmark and the UK have prospered since they have developed and improved effective climate polices out in advance. On the other hand, those nations that exhibit a policy barcode of inconsistency or regression are viewed unfavourably.
- Global Climate Finance: Findings underscore the urgent imperative to mobilise more climate finance in order to help developing countries shift towards low-emission and climate-resilient development pathways. Ties pledged by the wealthy countries are however put under the spotlight especially regarding increased commitment to financial contributions towards the fulfilment of the set climate change objectives.
Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)
The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) is a vital tool that assesses and compares the climate protection performance of 63 countries, which are collectively responsible for over 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions. First developed by Germanwatch, New Climate Institute and Climate Action Network International in 2005, the CCPI can improve the transparency of international climate politics and spur countries to improve their climate policies.
Purpose and Methodology
The main purpose of the CCPI is to measure the efforts of the country in terms of promoting sensible climate policies and measures. Given that the index identifies leaders and laggards in climate performance, it becomes a useful tool in the sense that it informs policy makers, scholars and members of the public as to where there is need for improvement, and in which areas there must be emulation of success.
The CCPI uses a comprehensive methodology that assesses countries based on 14 indicators grouped into four main categories:
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions (40%): This category assesses the current status of emissions in current year, year over year changes and conformity to the Paris Agreement. They are such measures of per capita emission and emissions intensity.
- Renewable Energy (20%): This category examines the relative contribution of renewables in the energy balance, the building up of renewable energy capacities and the rates of increase of the renewables. It compares the present state and future planned objectives to the amount of renewable energy that is to be used.
- Energy Use (20%): This category compares the total amount of energy that is required to be generated in a country in comparison to the Gross Domestic Product and the Population. It considers energy intensity, total primary energy supply, and trends in energy use over time.
- Climate Policy (20%): This category focuses on how good and how ambitious a country’s national and international climate policies are. It assesses policies and policy portfolios, policy measures as well as the degree of compliance with storage targets for climate change.
Key Findings and Trends
The CCPI frequently displays that there are highly varying levels of climate performance across the countries. Usually, it is the countries of the Nordic region such as Denmark and Sweden that top the list due to their strict climate plans, the percentage of electricity generated from renewables, and efficiency in emission cutting approaches. On the other hand, China for example as a major emitter is ranked below due to their high absolute emissions and slow rate of shift from fossil fuels to clean energy as compared to countries that are relatively small in emissions but have committed to clean energy.
One significant pattern which is worth mentioning includes the decline in values on the top positions in the index. Since the results started to be published several years ago, there has been a systematic absence of representatives in the top three, meaning no country has provided an outcome that would be adequate to approach the temperature objectives set by the Paris Agreement at the same time properly. This brings out the importance of all countries raising the bar on their climate action.
Challenges and Limitations
Altogether, the CCPI is a rather useful but it has certain weaknesses. The index mostly feeds on publicly available data that are not infrequently qualitative and not fully comprehensive across countries. Further, some indicators can be weighted subjectively and index could not capture many particulars of national conditions and policy contexts.
What needs to be done to enhance India’s Climate Change Performance Index
India has made significant strides in the fight against climate change, consistently ranking among the top performers in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI). To do better in the above ranking, India needs to employ a comprehensive strategy that must consider the Emission cut, promotion of clean energy, efficiency in energy use, sound climate politics among others. Here are some strategies that India can implement to improve its standing in the CCPI:
1. Stepping up the shift to renewable energy.
India has been at the forefront of the renewable energy technology especially solar energy systems in the world. However, to move higher in the CCPI rankings, India needs to further accelerate this transition:
- Increase Renewable Energy Capacity: India’s target of meeting 500 GW of RE capacity additions in the country by 2030 appears realistic. Renewal of solar, wind, and hydroelectric projects must be strengthened, and decentralized.
- Promote Rooftop Solar Installations: Promoting the installation of rooftop solar systems in the urban and rural areas offers an opportunity to increase renewable power capacity greatly. Incentivizing with money, subsidies and easing the restrictive rules and regulation can go along way.
- Invest in Energy Storage Solutions: The stability and reliability of the grid depend on increasing its ability to store renewable energy. The exploitation of skills in battery and pumped hydro storage technologies will guarantee uninterrupted renewable energy.
2. Enhance Energy Efficiency
Improving energy efficiency across various sectors can significantly reduce emissions and lower energy consumption:
- Implement Energy-Efficient Building Codes: Forcing new constructions or retrofit old buildings by applying high energy efficiency requirements lower energy consumption. The campaign for green building standards as well as use of power friendly consumer appliances will also help greatly.
- Modernize Industrial Processes: using economic instruments to convince industries or factories to tend to adopt efficient energy-using products and methods may help lower emissions. Making investment in energy efficient technologies and consultancy for modernization of plant and process will stir the industrial energy efficiency.
- Promote Public Transport and Electric Vehicles: Improving and increasing the access to efficient public transport and offering sustainable financial incentives for increasing the density of electric vehicles help to decrease emission from transport. Establishing the charging stations of EV and offering subsidies for the procurement of these vehicles, will fast track this transition.
3. Improve climate change laws and regulation
Robust and well-implemented climate policies are crucial for sustained progress:
- Enforce Existing Regulations: Maintaining a strong compliance level regarding environmental laws and policies, including the limits on emission levels, pollution control and so on is essential. Enhancing the capacity of institutions and improving the degree of transparency will create better compliance.
- Develop Long-Term Climate Strategies: Long-term systems-based climate strategies together with associated roadmaps to the Paris Agreement’s goals will be another way of providing a guide for emission reduction. These strategies should therefore incorporate sector driven goals and time frames.
- Enhance Climate Resilience: It is important to identify and come up with coping mechanisms regarding impacts of Climate Change. Ensuring that we build structures which can accommodate extreme weather conditions and reducing vulnerability shall hold the vulnerable groups.
4. Establishing international relations
Collaborating with other countries and international organizations can amplify India's climate efforts:
- Leverage Climate Finance: Climate finance on the international level, can be also helpful to finance climate projects. The mitigation and adaptation interventions will require funds hence access to Global funding instruments including the Green Climate Fund will be useful.
- Participate in Global Alliances: To expand its role in climate change, India must become more assertively engaged in multilateral climate processes and institutions and promote the country’s climate initiatives on a global level, for example the International Solar Alliance and the Global Biofuels Alliance.
5. Public Awareness and Participation
Engaging the public and promoting awareness about climate change is essential for collective action:
- Educational Campaigns: National level mass acquaintanceship campaigns to advocate on climate change and more sustainable ways of living can foster a change in behaviour. Schools, communities and media have a great responsibility to expedite this process.
- Community Involvement: Supporting the communities in implementing projects, as well as providing for the local climate change protection plans’ adoption will engage more people. Sustaining small non-governmental organizations, as well as offering areas for participation will assist the communities.