According to the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2025 report, India Slips to 10th in the Climate Change Index out of over 60 countries in climate change mitigation. Despite slipping three points from last year, India remains one of the best-performing countries, thanks to low per capita emissions and substantial progress in renewable energy development. The CCPI 2025 study, released at the United Nations Climate Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, focuses on the development of 63 nations and the European Union, which together account for 90% of global emissions.

The study noticeably leaves the top three positions vacant, indicating a lack of countries satisfying the “very high” performance standards. Denmark (4th), the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom top the rankings, while the two largest emitters, China and the United States, are 55th and 57th, respectively. The index, developed by Germanwatch, the New Climate Institute, and Climate Action Network International, assesses countries’ emissions levels, renewable energy uptake, and climate policies.

India’s Achievements and Challenges in Climate Action

India’s climate performance is primarily due to its relatively low per capita emissions of 2.9 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e), lower than the global average of 6.6 tCO2e. India, the world’s most populous country and the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has set lofty targets, including achieving net zero emissions by 2070 and 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030. Over the last year, India has achieved significant progress in renewable energy policies, mainly through large-scale solar projects and initiatives such as the Rooftop Solar Scheme. Additionally, the government is making strides in energy efficiency regulations and electric vehicle usage, particularly for two-wheelers.

Despite these achievements, India still faces considerable hurdles. Coal remains a crucial component of its energy landscape, with ambitions to expand output from some of the world’s largest developed coal reserves. This reliance on coal creates a barrier to meeting comprehensive climate targets. The CCPI analysis recommends that, while India’s climate policies are growth-oriented, they must change to meet the energy demands of a fast-growing population and industrial sector.

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Global Context: Top Performers and Struggling Nations

India and the United Kingdom are the only two G20 nations classified among the top performers in the CCPI. Denmark leads the ranking, followed by the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. It has seen significant improvement due to its coal phase-out and subsequent decision to suspend new fossil fuel project licensing. Meanwhile, Argentina has emerged as one of the most underperforming countries, placing 59th after withdrawing from COP29 and indicating a possible withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. Despite scientific consensus, the country’s freshly elected officials deny the existence of human-caused climate change. China and the United States, the two most significant global emitters, remain in the bottom ranks of the CCPI rankings. Although China has implemented promising climate initiatives, its reliance on coal and weak targets impede significant progress. Similarly, the United States remains in 57th place, indicating modest progress in reducing its significant pollution levels. Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia, four of the world’s top oil and gas producers, are placed lowest. Their continuous reliance on fossil fuels contributes to their underperformance in the index.

In conclusion, as India Slips to 10th in the Climate Change Index, it highlights the country’s status as a developing-nation climate action leader. India can lead global efforts to combat climate change with ambitious renewable energy objectives and continuous policy developments. However, concerns like coal dependency and rising energy demand necessitate a more comprehensive and long-term approach to climate action. On a global scale, the CCPI research emphasises the importance of additional states implementing transformative policies as the collective fight against climate change escalates.

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