Global Climate & Environmental Performance Indices

Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)

To compare how countries are responding to climate change, an independent ranking system called the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) is used.

What is CCPI?

• Covers 63 countries + the EU
• Together account for 92% of global GHG emissions
• Published annually since 2005
• Objective: Track progress towards Paris Agreement goals (≤2°C, preferably 1.5°C).

Institutions Behind CCPI

• Germanwatch (Germany)
• New Climate Institute
• Climate Action Network

How Does CCPI Measure Performance?

CCPI evaluates countries using 14 indicators, grouped into 4 categories:

Category	Weight
GHG emissions	40%
Renewable energy	20%
Energy use	20%
Climate policy	20%

👉 This weighting shows that actual emissions matter more than promises alone.

India in CCPI 2025

• Rank: 10th (↓ 2 places from 2024, but still Top 10)
• Overall Insight: Strong relative performer among developing countries.

Category-wise Performance

• GHG Emissions: High (low per-capita emissions)
• Energy Use: High (efficiency improvements)
• Climate Policy: Medium (implementation gaps)
• Renewable Energy: Low (coal dependence despite solar push)

Drivers

• Solar expansion, EV push, leadership in International Solar Alliance.

Constraints

• Continued coal reliance
• Weak enforcement of climate policies

Global Rankings Snapshot

Top Performers (Ranks 4–10)

• 4 – Denmark (global leader: renewables, strong policy)
• 5 – Netherlands
• 6 – United Kingdom
• 7 – Philippines
• 8 – Morocco
• 9 – Norway
• 10 – India

Bottom Performers (Ranks 58–67)

• Japan, Argentina, Kazakhstan, Canada, South Korea, Russia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran
• Common Issues: High fossil fuel dependence, weak climate laws, poor renewable uptake.

G20 Performance Highlights

• Better Performers: India (10), UK (6)
• Poor Performers: USA, China, Canada, Saudi Arabia
• Reason: High per-capita energy use, fossil fuel subsidies, weak policy enforcement.

Key Trends from CCPI 2025

• Vacant Top 3: No country climate-ready for 1.5°C pathway.
• Renewables = Bottleneck: Even leaders lag in renewable share.
• Policy–Practice Gap: Strong pledges, weak execution.
• Per Capita vs Total Emissions:
  • India → low per capita, high absolute emissions
  • Developed nations → high per capita energy use

Way Forward

For India

• Phase-out inefficient coal plants (target ~2030).
• Redirect subsidies to renewables, storage, smart grids.
• Strengthen enforcement + carbon pricing mechanisms.
• Scale rooftop solar, EV public transport.
• Leverage ISA for finance & tech transfer.

For the World

• Eliminate fossil fuel subsidies.
• Boost climate finance (e.g., Green Climate Fund).
• Integrate renewables with emission cuts.
• Invest in CCUS, grid-scale storage, smart grids.

Environmental Performance Index (EPI)

While CCPI focuses mainly on climate action, the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) looks at overall environmental performance.

What is EPI?

• A biennial index
• Started in 2002 as the Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI)
• Joint initiative of:
  • World Economic Forum
  • Yale University
  • Columbia University
• Designed to support the UN Millennium Development Goals

Key Highlights of EPI 2024

Global Scenario

• Estonia tops the index by cutting GHG emissions by ~59% from 1990 levels.
• Only 5 countries on track for net zero by 2050:
  • Estonia, Finland, Greece, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom
• Lowest-performing regions:
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Southern Asia
• Countries earlier projected to meet net zero (EPI 2022) show reversal or slowdown:
  • USA: Progress slowed
  • China, India, Russia: Emissions still rising

India’s Performance in EPI 2024

• Rank: 176 / 180
• Score: 27.6
• Only above: Pakistan, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar

Category-wise Concerns

• Air Quality: Rank 177
• Projected Emissions (2025): Rank 172
• Biodiversity Conservation: Weak performance

Primary Reasons

• Heavy coal dependence
• High GHG emissions
• Severe air pollution

Transboundary Pollution

• India identified as largest emitter of transboundary pollution in South Asia
• Impacts Bangladesh and regional well-being.

Relative Positives

• Climate Change category: Rank 133
  • Due to renewable energy investments
  • Commitment to net zero by 2070
• Estimated requirement: USD 160 billion/year for mitigation.

New Feature (2024)

• Introduction of pilot indicators to assess:
  • Effectiveness and stringency of protected areas

Issues Related to EPI

Issues Raised by India

• Projected GHG Methodology:
  • Uses average emission trends → ignores development stage & future transitions.
• Carbon Sinks Ignored:
  • Forests & wetlands not factored despite being major carbon absorbers.
• Biodiversity Measurement Gaps:
  • Focus on extent of ecosystems, not condition or productivity.
• Missing Indicators:
  • Agro-biodiversity
  • Soil health
  • Food loss & waste
• Data Constraints:
  • Developing countries face monitoring and data-collection challenges.

Issues in General

• Development vs Environment Trade-off
• Fossil-fuel dependent economies face transition barriers.
• Funding Gap:
  • Insufficient climate finance from developed to developing nations.
• Transboundary Challenges:
  • Air pollution, water sharing, wildlife conservation require multilateral cooperation.

Conclusion

• EPI 2024 highlights a widening gap between environmental ambition and ground realities, especially for developing economies grappling with growth, energy security, and limited climate finance.
• India’s poor rank contrasts with CCPI due to EPI’s broader environmental lens and methodological limitations.