Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI): Full Rankings, Methodology

Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) Rankings: Denmark tops again, top 3 vacant. India falls 13 spots to 23rd due to coal reliance. Full list, methodology & analysis of global climate performance.

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The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) is one of the most respected independent monitoring tools that tracks how seriously countries are fighting climate change. Released every November since 2005 on the sidelines of the UN COP, the CCPI 2026 (published 18 November 2025) once again left the top three places empty, sending a clear message: no country is yet on a 1.5°C-compatible pathway.

What is the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)?

The CCPI ranks 63 countries + the European Union that together account for over 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Published annually by Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute, and Climate Action Network (CAN), it acts as a global climate report card.

Countries Covered (2026 edition)

All G20 nations
Major emitters: China, USA, India, Russia, Brazil, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Türkiye, etc.
Progressive leaders: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, UK, Morocco, Chile, Portugal

CCPI 2026 Ranking Methodology (Updated Weighting)

Each country is scored out of 100 and ranked across four weighted categories:

Category	Weight	What it Measures
GHG Emissions	40%	Current levels, historical trends, 2030 targets
Renewable Energy	20%	Share and growth of wind, solar, hydro, etc.
Energy Use	20%	Efficiency and per-capita consumption
Climate Policy	20%	National & international policy strength & implementation

Performance is classified as: Very High | High | Medium | Low | Very Low

CCPI 2026 Top 10 Rankings (Released 18 Nov 2025, COP30 Belém)

Rank	Country	Overall Score	Category Change from 2025
1–3	(Vacant)	–	No country 1.5°C compatible
4	Denmark	79.81	↑ Retained strong position
5	United Kingdom	76.42	↑ Post-election policy boost
6	Morocco	74.19	↑ Solar & wind leadership
7	Norway	73.88	Steady
8	Sweden	73.15	Slight dip
9	Chile	72.64	↑ Green hydrogen push
10	Portugal	71.93	↑ 93% renewable electricity
11	Netherlands	71.12
23	India	61.31	↓ Fell 13 places

Why Are the Top 3 Places Always Empty?

The CCPI deliberately leaves ranks 1–3 vacant to signal that no national policy is yet fully aligned with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit. Even Denmark, the perennial leader, still has gaps in transport decarbonisation and imported emissions.

Biggest Movers in CCPI 2026

Biggest climbers ↑ Morocco (+4 spots) – world’s largest solar complex (Noor) expansion ↑ United Kingdom (+6 spots) – new Labour government’s 2030 clean power target ↑ Estonia (+8 spots) – oil shale phase-out acceleration

Biggest fallers ↓ India (−13 spots) → 23rd – coal production surge despite 50% non-fossil capacity ↓ Indonesia (−10 spots) – continued nickel & coal expansion ↓ Türkiye (−9 spots) – new coal plants approved

Key Global Trends from CCPI 2026

Renewable energy revolution: 15 countries now get >50% electricity from renewables (Portugal hit 93% in 2025).
Coal vs Climate conflict: India, China, Indonesia, and South Africa dragged down by new coal commitments.
Carbon pricing gap: Only 12 of 64 assessed entities have adequate carbon prices (>€60/tCO₂).
Just transition missing: Few countries have credible plans for coal workers.

How India Performed in Detail (23rd Rank)

Category	India’s Rating	Remark
GHG Emissions	Medium	Emissions up 4.6% in 2023; no peak year declared
Renewable Energy	Low	14% of final energy (excellent capacity, low share)
Energy Use	Medium	Efficiency improving but demand skyrocketing
Climate Policy	Medium	Strong NDCs, weak coal phase-down signals

India achieved 50% non-fossil installed capacity five years early but coal still generates ~70% of electricity.

Quick Revision Notes for UPSC/SSC 2026

Published by: Germanwatch + NewClimate + CAN
Since: 2005
Countries assessed: 63 + EU (90%+ global emissions)
Top 3 ranks: Always vacant (1.5°C signal)
2026 top performer: Denmark (4th)
India 2026 rank: 23rd (↓13)
Highest weight: GHG Emissions (40%)

The CCPI remains the gold standard for tracking real climate action versus greenwashing. As COP30 continues in Brazil, all eyes are on whether the 2027 index will finally see a country break into the top 3.