Climate Change Performance Index 2027: India Ranks 28th with 60.85 Points

India ranked 28th place with a score of 60.85 in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2027. The country has dropped by five places compared to the previous ranking where it was placed 23rd. According to the CCPI, published by Germanwatch and the NewClimate Institute, the index measures how well countries have performed in terms of reducing emissions, increasing renewable energy, controlling energy use and having effective climate policies. Overall, the country received a Medium rating, with the increase of renewable energy being acknowledged however, there are still issues with coal dependency, increased emissions and electrical infrastructure.

What is the Climate Change Performance Index?

The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) is an independent international tool that measures how well countries are protecting the climate. The index measures how well countries are doing in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing renewable energy, controlling their energy use and having effective climate policies.

The index was introduced in 2005 and is published every year by Germanwatch and the NewClimate Institute. It is supported by the Climate Action Network International.

The 2027 version includes 64 countries and the European Union meaning it covers over 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This helps to show if countries are taking the right actions in line with the Paris Agreement.

Key Features of CCPI 2027

• Full name: Climate Change Performance Index
• Year: CCPI 2027
• Published: 2005
• Published by: Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute
• Supported by: Climate Action Network International
• Countries included: 64 countries and European Union
• Global Emissions covered: Over 90%
• Indicators used: 14
• Categories: 4
• Climate experts involved: ~500
• Purpose: To measure and compare the effectiveness of national climate action.

Global Key Findings from Climate Change Performance Index 2027

The index shows that there is a gap in the performance of countries in relation to their climate commitments. No country received a Very High rating overall meaning the top 3 rankings were empty.

Denmark ranked 4th with the most effective performance for the 6th year running. This was due to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increasing renewable energy.

Top Performing and Other Countries in CCPI 2027

Other Key Findings

• Denmark received the highest ranking for the 6th year running.
• United Kingdom was the only G20 country to receive a High score.
• 10 G20 countries received a Very Low score.
• Despite increasing renewable energy and electrification, China ranked 56th.
• Argentina fell significantly due to climate policy rollbacks, poor environmental structures and increasing oil and gas.

India’s Rankings in CCPI 2027

India ranked 28th with a score of 60.85. This resulted in an overall Medium rating. However, this was a drop by 5 places compared to CCPI 2026 and by 18 places compared to CCPI 2025.

Country’s Ranking in Last 3 Editions

India’s Performance in Categories

India’s performance varied between the 4 categories. While it received a High score for its increasing renewable energy, it still had a Low score overall.

Why Did India’s Ranking Drop?

While acknowledging progress in renewable energy, there are structural issues that are slowing down the transition to a low carbon economy.

1. Renewable Energy Growth

• India has increased renewable energy by promoting renewable energy through competitive bidding, support for rooftop solar and encouraging domestic production. Increasing electric vehicle use has also helped.
• A key milestone was met in June 2025 where non-fossil fuel sources made up 50% of the cumulative electricity installed capacity. This was achieved 5 years early compared to previous target of 2030.
• However this does not show the true proportion of electricity generated. Improvements need to be made to the grid, storage and renewable energy.

2. Coal Dependency

• Coal is a big generator of electricity for India. A major issue is that the country is heavily relying on coal, oil and gas.
• While there is a net zero target for 2070, there needs to be a clearer time frame for reducing fossil fuels.

3. Increased Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• Increased energy use and emissions per capita is an issue. As the economy is increasing, it is important to reduce emissions from electricity, industry, transport and other sectors.

4. Electrical Infrastructure and Storage

• There is a lack of transmission infrastructure, energy storage and flexibility in the grid.
• Solar and wind energy can be lost due to a lack of capacity to utilize the energy. Improvements need to be made to transmission and storage to make the most of renewable energy.

5. Climate Policies

• While there are climate policies in place, they need to be improved. There are opportunities to improve the implementation of policies and ensure policies are aligned.

India’s Climate Goals by 2035

India has set out 3 key goals by 2035 in its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). These apply to the period 2031-2035.

This shows the effort to increase clean energy, reduce emissions intensity, and increase carbon sinks.

What are the Key Indicators in CCPI?

There are 14 indicators used in the Climate Change Performance Index. They are divided into 4 categories which each with a weighted score.

1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions (40%)

This category has the highest weighting. It measures the country’s current emissions, past trends and how well they are performing to meet their climate goals.

2. Renewable Energy (20%)

This measures the proportion of renewable energy being used (such as solar, wind, hydro), and how much it is increasing. It also looks at how effective their targets are.

3. Energy Use (20%)

This looks at how much energy is used per capita and how much improvement has been made to increase energy efficiency.

4. Climate Policy (20%)

This looks at climate policies in place from national and international sources. This includes commitments made, implementation, and joining international climate agreements. ~500 climate and energy experts have contributed to this.