11.12.19

Climate Change Performance Index

India for the first time ranks among the top ten countries in the Climate Change Performance Index which is being released annually after analysing four parameters — greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, climate policy and energy use. The country has, in fact, improved its ranking from 11th last year to ninth this year.

The first three spots in the CCPI were, however, left vacant symbolically as none of the countries assessed is on a trajectory compatible with the Paris Agreement, signed in 2015. The top three performers are Sweden (fourth), Denmark (fifth) and Morocco (sixth). The CCPI is a ranking of 57 countries and the European Union, is collectively responsible for about 90% of the global GHG emissions. The CCPI 2020, released by three international NGOs — Germanwatch, New Climate Institute and Climate Action Network — on the sidelines of the ongoing UN climate change conference shows that the EU collectively (22nd) and China (30th) rank below India in the list whereas the second largest global emitter, the US, figure at bottom. While only two G20 countries — United Kingdom (7th) and India (9th) — are ranked in the high categories, eight figure in the worst category of the Index.

The CCPI report noted that the current levels of per capita emissions and energy use are still comparatively low in the country. The low per capita emissions and energy use along with “ambitious 2030 targets” result in high ratings of the country in these two parameters. “While the country receives an overall medium rating in the renewable energy category, India’s 2030 renewable energy target is rated very high for its well-below-2°C compatibility,” said the report.

It added, “Despite an overall high rating for its ‘Climate Policy’ performance, experts point out that the government has yet to develop a roadmap for the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies that would consequently reduce the country’s high dependence on coal.”

Besides the USA, some other countries in the ‘very low’ rating category in the CCPI are Turkey, Poland, Japan, Russia, Canada and Australia. However, on the positive side, 31 of the 57 high emitting countries are showing falling emission trends.

“The new Climate Change Performance Index shows signs of a global turnaround in emissions.However, several large countries are still trying to resist this trend. We see opportunities for a halt to rising global emissions, but much will depend on further developments in China and the elections in the US. Both countries are at crossroads,” said Ursula Hagen of the Germanwatch.

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