India Slips on Climate List but Stays a Top Performer

India has dropped to 10th place in the Climate Change Performance Index, falling from 7th last year. Even so, it’s still one of the best-performing G20 nations, along with the UK. The report praises India for progress in renewable energy but says the country still relies heavily on coal.

India stayed in the top 10 of a list ranking 63 countries for their efforts to fight climate change, even though it dropped two spots from last year. This is due to India's low per-person emissions and fast adoption of renewable energy, according to a report.

In 2023, the world made significant strides in renewable energy, but slow progress in reducing global emissions weakened its impact, according to a report presented at COP29 in Baku.

India ranked 10th in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI 2025), down from 7th place last year, with an overall score of 67.99 out of 100. The report, created by Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute, and CAN International, reflects India’s mixed performance in combating climate change.

The CCPI report highlights that India is unlikely to make major changes to its climate policies in the near future. The country’s approach will likely remain focused on growth, driven by increasing energy demand from its industries and population.

Interestingly, the first three spots in the CCPI rankings remain vacant, as no country performed well enough across all categories to earn a “very high” overall rating. This emphasizes the global need for stronger and more balanced climate action.

The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI 2025) evaluates major emitters on emissions, renewable energy use, and climate policies. The 63 countries, along with the European Union, together contribute 90% of global emissions.

China, the world’s largest emitter, ranks 55th, and the US, the second-largest emitter, is at 57th in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2025, making them among the lowest performers. At the bottom of the list are Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Russia, ranked 67th to 64th, respectively. These countries rely heavily on oil and gas, with renewables making up less than 3% of their energy mix. The report states they show little progress in moving away from fossil fuels.

Jan Burck, the CCPI’s lead author, highlighted the growing use of renewables, particularly in electricity, but warned about strong resistance from the fossil fuel industry. The CCPI evaluates countries on four categories: greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, renewable energy, energy use, and climate policy. Together, the 63 nations and the EU account for over 90% of global emissions.

India scores high in GHG emissions and energy use but is rated medium in climate policy and low in renewable energy. While India has made significant strides in solar power and renewable energy initiatives, it still relies heavily on coal. Despite its low per-person emissions and energy use, India is among the top 10 countries with the largest coal reserves and plans to increase production.

The report stresses the G20’s responsibility to lead emissions reductions, as the group contributes over 75% of global GHG emissions. Among them, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea remain the poorest performers.

The CCPI report highlights the need for stricter criteria in selecting COP host countries. An open letter by scientists and policy leaders to the UNFCCC Secretary on November 15 called for excluding nations that fail to support transitioning away from fossil fuels. Hosts should show strong commitment to the Paris Agreement's goals, the letter emphasized.

The CCPI outlines two key issues: implementation gaps (countries not meeting their goals) and ambition gaps (lack of sufficient targets). Of the 64 countries assessed, including the EU, only 22—such as India and the UK—were on track to meet their implementation targets, while 42 fell behind.

"The world is at a critical moment," said Prof. Niklas Höhne of the NewClimate Institute, co-author of the CCPI. "We are nearing the peak of global emissions, but now we must act quickly to ensure a sharp decline. Drastically reducing emissions is the only way to avoid the severe consequences of climate change. Time is running out, and an urgent shift is needed."