India Slips Five Places to 28th in Global Climate Change Performance Index

New Delhi: India has dropped five places to rank 28th in the latest Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), an independent assessment that tracks the climate mitigation performance of 64 countries and the European Union.

Despite the decline, India retained an overall medium rating, with medium scores in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy use and climate policy. Its high rating for renewable energy trends reflects progress in expanding clean energy capacity, according to the report released on Thursday.

The rankings were announced as the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the UN Climate Change Conference is underway in Antalya, Turkey.

The CCPI assesses countries across four categories comprising 14 indicators, with their individual scores determining the overall ranking. The first three positions remain vacant because no country has performed well enough across all categories to receive a very high rating.

The report noted that even if all countries matched the climate commitments of the current frontrunners, global efforts would still fall short of what is required to prevent dangerous climate change.

In India, competitive procurement, rooftop solar incentives and support for domestic manufacturing have contributed to the expansion of renewable energy. In June 2025, non-fossil fuel sources accounted for 50 per cent of the country's cumulative installed electricity capacity, five years ahead of its earlier 2030 target under the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

The report clarified that this figure includes nuclear power alongside renewable sources and represents installed capacity, not the actual share of electricity generated.

CCPI country experts acknowledged India's progress in expanding solar and wind power, rooftop installations and electric vehicles (EVs).

India's NDC for 2031-2035 sets three key targets for 2035: reducing the emissions intensity of GDP by 47 per cent from 2005 levels, raising the share of non-fossil sources in cumulative installed electricity capacity to around 60 per cent, and creating a forest and tree-cover carbon sink of 3.5-4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent compared with 2005 levels.

The report noted that achieving the capacity target would depend partly on international technology cooperation and access to low-cost finance. While some civil society experts believe India could adopt more ambitious targets in view of recent progress, others argue that the priority should be delivering on existing commitments and the project pipeline.

A major concern highlighted by experts is the gap between renewable energy capacity additions and the development of transmission networks, distribution infrastructure and energy storage.

Citing estimates by energy think tank Ember, the report said India curtailed 2.3 terawatt-hours (TWh) of solar power generation between late May and December 2025 to maintain grid security. The curtailment reflected operational constraints, including limited flexibility in conventional power generation.

The report said coordinated investments in electricity grids, storage systems, demand flexibility and more adaptable power plant operations would help convert rising renewable capacity into higher clean electricity generation and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Experts also recognised India's progress in electric mobility, industrial energy-efficiency programmes and appliance standards. The Carbon Credit Trading Scheme has assigned emissions-intensity targets to 490 industrial entities since January 2026.

However, they stressed the need for more ambitious targets, credible verification mechanisms and measurable emissions reductions. Gaps remain in the coverage and enforcement of building energy codes, as well as compliance with appliance standards in informal markets.

India's public transport infrastructure has also expanded, with urban rail connectivity reaching 26 cities by August 2026. However, some experts called for greater investment in affordable bus services, improved service quality and infrastructure supporting walking and cycling.

The report also highlighted differing views among experts on whether India should adopt absolute emissions-reduction targets. Some civil society representatives advocated a gradual shift towards such pathways, while others questioned their near-term feasibility in view of the country's development requirements and rising electricity demand. Another expert recommended reporting absolute emissions trends alongside existing intensity-based targets.

India's current NDC focuses on reducing emissions intensity relative to GDP. A university expert stressed the distinction between this existing commitment and recommendations for absolute emissions reductions.

The report further noted that expanding clean electrification beyond transport, particularly in industry, freight and cooking, could help reduce fossil fuel dependence while strengthening India's competitiveness and energy security.

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