Germanwatch released the Climate Change Performance Index 2024 during the Global Climate Summit in Dubai.
Key findings of the report
- India has been ranked 7th in CCPI 2024. India has improved one rank from the previous rank, and also remains among the highest performing countries.
- According to a report, India has retained its position in the top 10 for the fifth consecutive year.
- Technically, only three countries – Denmark, Estonia and the Philippines – rank above India as no country has performed well enough in all four assessment categories to achieve a full 100 score on the CCPI. Therefore, no country has been placed in the first three ranks.
- India has the best rank among G20 countries. The biggest polluter, China, is at number 51 while the second biggest emitter, America, is at 57th place.
Climate Change Performance Index
- The index, released by Germanwatch, evaluates the climate mitigation efforts of 63 countries and the European Union, which account for more than 90 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
- Climate protection performance is evaluated in four categories. These are: 1. Green House Gas Emissions, 2. Renewable Energy, 3. Energy Use and 4. Climate Policy.
Global Trends in Climate Performance
- Most developed countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, and Italy, showed a decline in climate performance compared to the previous year.
- Saudi Arabia ranked at the bottom (67th), while the host country, the United Arab Emirates, occupied the 65th position.
Urgent Need for Global Action
- The report emphasizes that CCPI countries must achieve an emissions peak by 2025 to align with the 1.5°C goal and aim to halve emissions by 2030 (vs 2020 levels).
- Despite the urgency, global greenhouse gases (GHG) increased in 2022, with atmospheric CO2 now 50% higher than pre-industrial levels.
Challenges and Opportunities for India
- India’s high population, contributing to lower per capita energy use, plays a significant role in its high position in climate performance.
- In GHG Emissions and Energy Use categories, India ranked 9th and 10th, respectively, benefiting from a low per capita benchmark.
- However, in Renewable Energy, India is ranked 37th, indicating a need for accelerated progress.