CLIMATE CHANGE PERFORMANCE INDEX 2024

The Climate Change Performance Index monitors climate mitigation progress of 63 countries and the European Union, together responsible for more than 90% of global emissions. The race against time continues: global emissions must nearly halve by 2030, and reducing the use of fossil fuels should account for most of that.

Ranking

  1.  
  2.  
  3.  
  4. Denmark
  5. Estonia
  6. Philippines
  7. India
  8. Netherlands
  9. Morocco
  10. Sweden
  11. Chile
  12. Norway
  13. Portugal
  14. Germany
  15. Luxembourg
  16. European Union
  17. Nigeria
  18. Spain
  19. Lithuania
  20. United Kingdom
  21. Switzerland
  22. Egypt
  23. Brazil
  24. Romania
  25. Thailand
  26. Finland
  27. Vietnam
  28. Greece
  29. Malta
  30. Pakistan
  31. Colombia
  32. Austria
  33. Latvia
  34. New Zealand
  35. Croatia
  36. Indonesia
  37. France
  38. Mexico
  39. Belgium
  40. Slovak Republic
  41. Slovenia
  42. Cyprus
  43. Ireland
  44. Italy
  45. South Africa
  46. Bulgaria
  47. Belarus
  48. Uzbekistan
  49. Hungary
  50. Australia
  51. China
  52. Czech Republic
  53. Argentina
  54. Algeria
  55. Poland
  56. Turkey
  57. United States
  58. Japan
  59. Malaysia
  60. Kazakhstan
  61. Chinese Taipei
  62. Canada
  63. Russian Federation
  64. Korea
  65. United Arab Emirates
  66. Islamic Republic of Iran
  67. Saudi Arabia

The biggest emitter China stagnates at the 51st place among the ‘low’ performing countries. Although China has a strong growing renewable energy sector and improves energy efficiency measures, it is among the nine countries responsible for 90% of global coal production. It also plans to increase its gas production by 2030.

USA (57th), the second biggest emitter, is still not on track. The Inflation Reduction Act has led to significant investments in renewable energy. But more concrete implementation policies in all sectors are needed. However, the disastrous climate policy record of the first Trump administration raises fears that a potential new Trump administration would make the picture even worse.´

With IndiaGermany (14th), and the EU (16th), only three G20 members are among the ‘high’ overall performers in the CCPI 2024. Fifteen G20 countries receive an overall ‘low’ or ‘very low’. Canada (62nd), Russia (63rd), South Korea (64th), and Saudi Arabia (67th) remain the G20’s worst performing countries. Saudi Arabia’s per capita greenhouse gas emissions are rising steadily. Its share of renewable energy in total primary energy supply is close to zero, and the countries targets are too low.

The United Kingdom has slipped down the rank from 11 to 20. The UK government under Prime Minister Sunak has rolled back on several pieces of climate legislation. This is exactly the opposite of what the world needs. Instead of phasing out fossil fuels, the government is increasing domestic fossil fuel extraction by approving a new coal mine and granting hundreds of new oil and gas licences in the North Sea. The UK has long been one of the top-ranked countries in the index, but its weakened climate policy has led to a significant drop.

Poland (54th), another European country, performs overall ‘very low’ and is therefore the only EU-country with this rating. If a new Polish government will increase its climate policy ambition, the country could potentially have a better rating next year.

In 2023, the EU adopted the Fit For 55 package, with a series of measures aimed at improving the EU’s climate and energy legislation. It aims to achieve a 55% net emissions reduction by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050. While the EU is likely to meet its 2030 emission reduction target, the target level of reduction is not ambitious enough to keep the EU in line with the Paris Agreement,.

The UAE (65th), is one of the lowest performing countries. The country’s performance disappoints in three out of four categories, particularly its high per capita emissions (25.9 tonnes) and the low share of renewable energy (less than 1%). Other oil-producing countries are at the bottom too, such as Russia (63rd), Iran (66th), Saudi Arabia (67th), and Canada (62nd).

Ranking EU Countries

  1.  
  2.  
  3.  
  4. Denmark
  5. Estonia
  6. Netherlands
  7. Sweden
  8. Portugal
  9. Germany
  10. Luxembourg
  11. Spain
  12. Lithuania
  13. Romania
  14. Finland
  15. Greece
  16. Malta
  17. Austria
  18. Latvia
  19. Croatia
  20. France
  21. Belgium
  22. Slovak Republic
  23. Slovenia
  24. Cyprus
  25. Ireland
  26. Italy
  27. Bulgaria
  28. Hungary
  29. Czech Republic
  30. Poland

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