India is among the top five countries and performs the best among the G-20 countries, says the the global Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI). The index is released by the German organisations German Watch, New Climate Institute, and Climate Action Network International.
The CCPI seeks to increase transparency in global climate politics and makes it possible to compare country climate protection initiatives and advancements. According to the CCPI, 2023, India moved up two positions to take the eighth spot.
The only four nations that were rated above India in the most recent CCPI report, which was presented at COP27 in November 2022, were Denmark, Sweden, Chile, and Morocco, which were ranked fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh, respectively.
No nation received the first, second, or third places, which meant India effectively has the highest ranking among all developed economies, according to the report. India scored highly in the categories of GHG emissions and energy use while receiving a medium rating for climate policy and renewable energy.
The CCPI aims to enhance transparency in international climate politics and enables comparison of climate protection efforts and progress made by individual countries. “India has been ranked amongst top 5 countries in the world, and the best among the G20 countries, based on its Climate Change performance,” a power ministry statement said.
Published annually since 2005, the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) is an independent monitoring tool for tracking the climate protection performance of 59 countries and the EU.
Every year, the CCPI sets off important public and political debates within the countries assessed. The climate protection performance of these 59 countries, which together account for 92 per cent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is assessed in four categories—GHG Emissions (40 per cent of overall score), Renewable Energy (20 per cent), Energy Use (20 per cent) and Climate Policy (20 per cent).
India earned a high rating in the GHG Emissions and Energy Use categories, while a medium rating for Climate Policy and Renewable Energy, the statement said.
The aggressive policies of India towards rapid deployment of renewables and robust framework for energy efficiency programs have shown considerable impact. As per the CCPI report, India is on track to meet its 2030 emissions targets (compatible with a well-below-2°C scenario), it added.
The ranking given by CCPI places India as the only G-20 country in the top 10 rank. India will now be assuming G-20 Presidency and it will be an opportune time to show the world its climate mitigation policies such as deployment of renewable sources of energy and other energy transition programmes, it said.
Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy R K Singh said India’s CCPI ranking is testimony to the leadership shown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards addressing the global climate change despite pandemic and tough economic times.
The top-5 rank globally reflects that India is implementing energy transition programmes such as renewable capacity installation at much faster rate than anywhere in the world.
