India slips 13 spots in global climate rankings
The report said the top three spots stayed empty, stating no nation is taking sufficient action to prevent dangerous climate change.
Belem: India has slipped 13 spots to rank 23rd in the latest global Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2026, released at the UN COP30 Climate Summit in Belem on Tuesday. The fall, according to the assessment, is largely driven by the country’s continued reliance on coal and the absence of any national timeline to phase it out — a factor that weighed heavily against an otherwise strong performance in renewable energy expansion.
The CCPI, developed jointly by Germanwatch, the NewClimate Institute, and the Climate Action Network, evaluates and tracks the climate mitigation progress of 63 countries along with the European Union. These nations collectively account for more than 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The annual index is widely regarded as one of the most detailed and influential global tools for measuring how effectively countries are addressing climate change.
This year, India scored 61.31 points, placing it 23rd overall — a notable drop from last year’s 10th position. The shift also moved India from the category of “high performer” to “medium performer,” marking a change in how its climate efforts are perceived internationally. The report highlighted that despite major strides in renewable energy and emissions intensity reduction, India remains one of the world’s largest producers and consumers of coal. The lack of a clear national deadline to exit coal, along with ongoing auctions of new coal blocks, significantly affected its score.
According to the CCPI authors, India’s strong renewable energy targets and its move toward non-fossil power capacity provided optimism last year. The country has already reached 50% of its installed power capacity from non-fossil sources — five years ahead of its 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitment. But even this achievement wasn’t enough to offset the heavy climate burden of coal dependence.
One of the recurring points in the report is that India’s energy roadmap still “remains anchored in coal.” The authors noted that subsidies supporting fossil fuel infrastructure continue to exist, and certain policies reinforce long-term lock-ins to coal-based power. India is among the top 10 countries with the largest developed coal reserves, and instead of decreasing production, the nation plans to increase extraction in coming years. This approach, the report warned, is incompatible with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C.
The CCPI also stressed what it sees as missed opportunities in India’s energy transition. Global climate advocacy groups have been urging countries — especially major emerging economies — to adopt a clear, time-bound plan for phasing down and eventually phasing out coal. They also called for redirecting fossil fuel subsidies toward decentralised, community-led renewable energy systems that can deliver clean power more equitably at the local level. India’s hesitation to commit to such a pathway was a factor behind its reduced ranking.
However, the document pointed out that India is far from alone in failing to meet the highest climate action standards. In fact, the top three positions of the CCPI remain deliberately empty — a symbolic reflection of the belief that no country in the world is currently doing enough to prevent dangerous climate change. The first actual ranking starts from the fourth position, underscoring how far the global community still is from meeting its climate commitments.
The authors acknowledged India’s progress in several areas, especially in renewable energy capacity, emissions per capita, and climate policy frameworks. India has been one of the most vocal proponents of climate equity, consistently pushing developed nations to meet their historical responsibilities and deliver on climate finance commitments. The country also continues to expand solar parks, invest in green hydrogen missions, and improve its energy efficiency landscape. These efforts helped India maintain a relatively positive position despite the rankings slip.
But concerns remain. India’s coal sector, which provides livelihood and economic support to millions, has long been politically sensitive. Policymakers argue that coal is still essential to India’s energy security and development, especially as electricity demand surges across industries and households. The government has maintained that even with rapid renewable energy growth, coal will continue to play a significant role for at least another decade.
Yet, climate analysts point out that delaying the shift away from coal may create long-term economic risks. Investments in coal infrastructure could become stranded assets as global markets move toward low-carbon alternatives. Moreover, extreme weather events — from heatwaves and floods to droughts and cyclones — are already impacting India disproportionately, making the case for more aggressive climate mitigation even stronger.
As COP30 discussions continue in Belem, India’s position in the CCPI is likely to fuel debates around the country’s energy choices, responsibilities, and climate leadership. While the fall in ranking highlights the challenges ahead, it also offers an opportunity for the country to reassess its coal strategy, accelerate renewable energy deployment, and strengthen its role in the global climate fight.
For now, India stands at a crossroads — balancing rapid development with the urgent need to transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future. The CCPI 2026 serves as a reminder that the world is watching closely.