Which countries have the best performance in climate action? Which countries are closest to the commitments of the Paris Agreement against warming? These questions are answered by the Climate Change Behavior Index of the Germanwatch organization, prepared by monitoring the progress made in this field by 63 countries and the European Union, jointly responsible for more than 90% of global emissions.
The study's authors indicate that in recent years, governments around the world have increasingly considered climate action on their agenda, and renewable energy is booming in many countries. However, these actions "are still insufficient."
Therefore, the race against time must continue, as global emissions must be reduced by almost half by 2030, with efforts focused on reducing the use of fossil fuels.
The first three positions in this ranking are declared empty, since no country evaluated has taken measures in line with the goal to stop warming at 1.5ºC. However, there are big differences in ambition, and good examples: Denmark is again in the lead (4th), followed by Estonia and the Philippines (5th and 6th respectively).
But bad examples also abound: China, the largest CO2 emitter, remains in 51st place, while the United States has even dropped five places since last year (now in 57th place).
COP28 hosts the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran and Saudi Arabia form the trio in the rear (ranked 65-67).
Spain climbs five places compared to last year, and is placed in 18th place, while five years ago it was in 35th position.
The climate performance index analyzes, with standardized criteria, four categories of indicators: per capita greenhouse gas emissions and plans for 2030, the participation of renewable energies in planning, the efficiency of energy use and the climate action plans and policies.
Some countries show good performance in some of the four categories, although overall none of them follows a path that allows them to be aligned with the Paris Agreement, to stop warming at 1.5ºC.
India, the most populous country in the world, occupies seventh place in the ranking, mainly due to relatively low per capita emissions and low per capita energy consumption. It has seen a positive expansion of renewable energy, but the country remains heavily dependent on coal.
“India needs to increase its participation in renewable energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. India's renewable targets for 2030 are still too weak,” says Höhne.
China, the largest emitter, stagnates in 51st place among “low” performing countries. Although the renewable energy sector is experiencing strong growth and improving energy efficiency measures, it is among the nine countries responsible for 90% of global coal production and also plans to increase its gas production by 2030.
The United States (57th place), the second largest emitter, is still not on the right track. Experts who have analyzed the United States welcome the Inflation Reduction Act, which generated significant investments in renewable energy. But they say that “more concrete implementation policies are needed in all sectors.”
In addition, “the disastrous climate policy record of the first Trump administration” continues to weigh and there are fears that “a possible new Trump administration will make the situation even worse,” says Burck.
Germany (14th) and the EU (16th), along with India only three G20 members are among the “high” performing countries in the CICC 2024.
In contrast, fifteen G20 countries receive an overall rating of “low” or “very low.” Canada (62nd),
Russia (63rd), South Korea (64th) and Saudi Arabia (67th) remain the worst performing countries in the G20.
Saudi Arabia's per capita greenhouse gas emissions are steadily increasing. Its share of renewable energy in total primary energy supply is close to zero and the country's targets are too low.
However, one G20 country has improved significantly and become one of the highest climbers. It is Brazil, which rises 15 places to 23rd place. As expected, the change in the Brazilian presidency has had a positive impact. Under President Lula, Brazil is pursuing a more progressive climate policy, both internationally and domestically.
However, the country's experts point out that at the same time, Brazil continues to expand its fossil fuel production and may not meet its climate goals. "Developments in Brazil are promising, but the G20 as a whole must significantly accelerate the expansion of renewable energy and phase out all fossil fuels as soon as possible," says Jan Burck.
"The G20 has a special responsibility for high climate ambition, as it represents around 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions."
The Spanish state rises 5 positions basically for having increased the emissions reduction target from 23% to 32% for the year 2030 compared to 1990, according to the review of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (Pniec).
Josep Puig Boix, one of the energy experts who has acted as a consultant. He says that the good development of renewables also has an impact. "However, if there is no reduction in the demand for energy, severe in the demand for energy for transport, tourism and agriculture, it will be very difficult to achieve the new objective of emissions reduction by 2030," says this expert, founder of the Grup de Científics i Tècnics per un Futur No Nuclear.
The United Kingdom, for its part, falls from 11th to 20th place after the rollback of climate policy registered under Prime Minister Sunak's government, which has reversed several climate laws.
“What is happening in the UK is exactly the opposite of what we need. Instead of phasing out fossil fuels, the government is increasing domestic fossil fuel extraction by approving a new coal mine and granting hundreds of new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea,” notes Thea Uhlich (Germanwatch), co-author of the index.
The UK has long been one of the highest-ranked countries on the index, but its weakened climate policy has caused a significant drop.
Poland (54th), another European country, has a "very poor" overall performance and is therefore the only EU country with this rating.
If a new Polish government increases its ambition on climate policy, the country could potentially have a better rating next year.
In 2023, the EU adopted the Fit For 55 package, with a series of measures aimed at improving EU climate and energy legislation.
It aims to achieve a 55% net emissions reduction by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050. 'While the EU is likely to meet its emissions reduction target by 2030, the EU emissions is not ambitious enough to keep the EU in line with the Paris Agreement,” says Uhlich.
The United Arab Emirates, hosts of the COP (65th), are at the bottom of the list. The country's performance disappoints in three of four categories, in particular it has a deplorable balance due to its high emissions per capita (25.9 tons) and the low proportion of renewable energy (less than 1%).
Other oil-producing countries are also at the bottom, including Russia (63rd), Iran (66th), Saudi Arabia (67th) and Canada (62nd).
“The index shows once again that the largest producers and exporters of fossil fuels obtain the worst results in the index," says Janet Milongo, senior director of the International Climate Action Network, for whom these data justify demands for the gradual elimination of fossil fuels, "without dangerous distractions." In his opinion, these states should focus all their efforts and funding on policies "to scale up to 100% renewable energy systems in a fair, equitable and rapid manner."
