The recent release of the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2023 has placed India in the 8th spot, a marked improvement from its 10th position in the 2022 edition. Produced annually since 2005 by Germanwatch, the New Climate Institute, and the Climate Action Network, the CCPI serves as an independent tool that monitors the climate protection performance of 59 countries and the European Union, collectively responsible for over 92% of global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
About the Climate Change Performance Index
Beyond its role as a monitoring tool, the CCPI aims to promote transparency in international climate politics. It allows for the comparison of climate protection efforts and the progress individual countries are making. The index uses four categories with 14 indicators: GHG Emissions (which account for 40% of the overall score); Renewable Energy and Energy Use (each comprising 20%); and Climate Policy (the remaining 20%).
CCPI 2023: Overall Performance
No country has achieved an overall ‘very high’ rating in all index categories, leaving the first three positions vacant. Denmark, Sweden, Chile, and Morocco, all relatively small countries, outranked India, placing 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th respectively. Notably, India was the only G-20 country to be listed among the top 10, with the United Kingdom trailing at 11th. China and the United States secured very low ratings, ranking 51st and 52nd respectively, while Iran ended up last at 63rd.
India’s Status and Performance
India’s performance in the CCPI 2023 was commendable, securing it a position among the top 5 countries globally and making it the highest-ranked among G20 nations. Its status as best among large economies was buoyed by high ratings in the GHG Emissions and Energy Use categories, with a medium rating for Climate Policy and Renewable Energy. India is projected to meet its 2030 emissions targets, which are compatible with a well-below 2°C scenario. Concerningly, however, the trajectory for renewable energy is not on track for the set 2030 target.
Concerns and Suggestions
Since the last CCPI, India has revised its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2070. However, detailed roadmaps and concrete plans to attain these targets remain elusive. The nation is among nine globally responsible for 90% of coal production and plans to boost its oil, gas, and coal production by over 5% by 2030. This goal is inconsistent with the 1.5°C target.
Experts have proposed solutions that emphasize a just and inclusive energy transition. They recommend decentralizing renewable energy and increasing capacity for rooftop photovoltaics. Implementing a carbon pricing mechanism, enhancing capacities at the subnational level, and devising detailed action plans to reach set targets are also crucial.
Understanding ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contributions’
In reference to the UPSC Civil Services Examination Prelims Question from 2016, the term ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contributions’ (NDCs) is used within the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to denote reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by countries that have signed the Paris Agreement. These NDCs outline the actions that countries intend to take under this international agreement, aiming to restrict the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C while pursuing efforts to limit it even further to 1.5°C. Moreover, they aim to achieve net-zero emissions in the latter half of the century.