About the Index
The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) is an independent monitoring tool for tracking countries’ climate protection performance. Published annually since 2005, it evaluates 63 countries and the European Union, which together account for over 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The CCPI assesses countries across four categories:
- GHG Emissions (40% weightage) — current level, past trend, and 2030 target
- Renewable Energy (20%) — current share, past trend, and 2030 target
- Energy Use (20%) — current level, past trend, and 2030 target
- Climate Policy (20%) — national and international policy assessment by experts
The top three ranks are intentionally left vacant because no country has achieved a performance level consistent with limiting warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius.
India’s Performance
CCPI 2026 (Latest Edition)
India ranked 23rd in CCPI 2026 (released at COP30, Belém, Brazil, November 2025) — a steep 13-place fall from 10th in CCPI 2025. India moved from the High to the Medium performer category.
| Category | CCPI 2026 India Rating |
|---|---|
| GHG Emissions | Medium |
| Renewable Energy | Low |
| Energy Use | Medium |
| Climate Policy | Medium |
Reasons for the 13-place fall:
- No national coal exit timeline; continued auctioning of new coal blocks
- Fossil-fuel subsidies and coal infrastructure investments maintained
- Absolute GHG emissions rising steeply — India ranked last in emissions trends
- Renewable energy share below what CCPI experts consider “high performance”
Positive notes: India’s updated NDC commits to 50% non-fossil capacity by 2030 (achieved in June 2025) and 45% emissions-intensity reduction vs. 2005; rising renewable auction volume; green finance taxonomy work ongoing.
CCPI 2025 (Previous Edition)
India was 10th in CCPI 2025 (released COP29, Baku, November 2024) with a score of 67.99, in the High category. India was one of only two G20 nations (alongside UK) in the High performer group.
Regional / BRICS Comparison (CCPI 2026)
| Country | CCPI 2026 Rank | Category |
|---|---|---|
| India | 23rd | Medium |
| Brazil | ~15th | High |
| UK | ~6th | High |
| China | ~55th | Very Low |
| South Africa | ~42nd | Low |
| USA | ~57th | Very Low |
Key Highlights
- The first three positions remain vacant — no country is doing enough to stay within the 1.5°C pathway (consistent across all editions since 2005)
- Denmark and Netherlands lead at 4th and 5th
- India’s fall reflects the growing gap between its renewable energy achievements and absolute emissions trajectory
- CCPI 2025 was released at COP29 (Baku, Nov 2024); CCPI 2026 released at COP30 (Belém, Brazil, Nov 2025)
Historical CCPI Rank — India
| Edition | Rank | Category | Released at |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCPI 2024 | 7th | High | COP28, Dubai (Nov 2023) |
| CCPI 2025 | 10th | High | COP29, Baku (Nov 2024) |
| CCPI 2026 | 23rd | Medium | COP30, Belém (Nov 2025) |
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: CCPI issuing bodies (Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute, CAN International), India’s ranks — CCPI 2025: 10th; CCPI 2026: 23rd; four categories assessed; vacancy of top 3 ranks; India’s fall to Medium in CCPI 2026 Mains GS-3: Climate change mitigation, India’s renewable energy targets (50% non-fossil achieved June 2025), per-capita vs absolute emissions debate, Paris Agreement NDCs, coal exit challenge Interview: “India achieved 50% non-fossil electricity in 2025 but CCPI ranked it 23rd in 2026. How do you reconcile these contradictory signals?”
