Climate change performance Index, 2026
About
Published annually since 2005 by Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute, and the Climate Action Network.
Tracked 63 countries and the European Union’s climate mitigation performance on four parameters—greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, energy use, and climate policy.
Rising Global Energy Demand
About India
“The national pathway is still anchored in coal. There is no national coal exit timeline and new coal blocks continue to be auctioned,” the report’s note on India read.
10th to 23rd position
In 2025, India was ranked 10. India is ranked 23 this year
Medium in all categories
India performed ‘medium’ in all categories except renewable energy.
Substantial progress in renewables
Report noted “substantial progress”, with India achieving a 13.9 per cent share of renewables in its total energy mix from 2015 to 2023, which the report said, is well above the global average.
Other findings
Denmark - 4th (1st)
Similar to last year, the top three spots remain unoccupied this time as well, with the ‘first’ position—the fourth spot in the index — claimed by Denmark.
count for 90% of emissions
The tracked countries account for more than 90 per cent of global GHG emissions
2015 - 2023 - increase in primary energy supply
Between 2015 and 2023, the total primary energy supply per capita also recorded an increase, with China (28.8 per cent), India (22.7 per cent), and Vietnam (50.8 per cent) registering the maximum rise in energy use.
Criticism
Underplaying the historical responsibility
Several developing countries, including India, argue that global indices tend to highlight present-day emissions while underplaying the historical responsibility of the developed world — places disproportionate scrutiny on emerging economies even as the US and parts of Europe “revive coal and delay harder cuts”. Print
