The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) which annually assesses 63 countries and the EU, collectively responsible for 90 per cent of global emissions considers emissions, renewables and climate policy of each country and ranks them against the ideal.

As before, not one country made the top three spots, as none are considered to have fully adopted all the policies and strategies necessary for a truly green future, but the highest places (fourth, fifth and sixth) go to Denmark, the Netherlands and, rising up the ranks, the UK.

The index cited Labour’s more ‘ambitious’ climate policies, ending coal production and granting no more licenses for new fossil fuel projects as main reasons for the rise.

The UK has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions 2030 by 68 per cent compared with 1990 levels, which plays a part in the rankings success, but the associated report from the CCPI notes that whilst this is the UK’s first target set in line with net-zero, the 2024 progress report of the UK Climate Change Committee found that the country is not on track to reach this target. The CCPI country experts assess that credible plans now only cover one-third of the emissions reductions required to achieve the 2030 target.

With the UK and India (10th), only two G20 countries are among the high performers in the CCPI, 14of the G20 countries receive an overall low or very low. South Korea (63rd), Russia (64th), and Saudi Arabia (66th) remain in the G20’s worst-performing countries, with an overall very low rating.

China ranks 55th in the CCPI, despite ‘promising’ plans, trends and measures, China remains heavily dependent on coal and lacks sufficient climate targets. However, CCPI believes that emissions appear to have almost peaked.

The US, the second biggest emitter, remains in 57th place among the very low performers. Jan Burck (Germanwatch), author of the CCPI, commented: “Politically, it will be difficult for Trump to end green future technologies from Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, but he will probably weaken them.”

The Climate Change Performance Index is published by Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute, and CAN International.

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