Denmark tops the latest "climate change performance index" (CCPI 2025) published on Wednesday by German non-governmental organisations (NGO) Germanwatch and NewClimate Institute. But the country only manages fourth place, with no nations doing enough to meet its climate targets under the Paris Agreement, the NGOs said.
The CCPI, published annually, monitors the climate action performance of 63 countries and the European Union (EU), which collectively account for more than 90pc of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
"No country deserves to be on the podium, but some countries are doing better than others," co-author Jan Burck from Germanwatch said at the presentation of the index at the UN Cop 29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Denmark tops the league for the fourth year running, thanks to its steady and comprehensive climate policy, its strong targets and renewables deployment.
Other "high performers" include the UK, which is "back on track" after having seen its ranking plummet: the UK moved up to 6th position from 20th, thanks to the new government's strong climate policy framework, and the country's successful coal phase-out.
But the UK's transition away from oil and gas is progressing too slowly, the NGOs warned.
India, another high performer, managed to climb the ranks to 10th place thanks to strong renewables deployment.
Medium-performing countries include Germany, which has fallen two ranks to 16th despite strong renewables deployment, as the country's buildings and transport sectors struggle to reduce their emissions, and as the country plans to expand its gas consumption, and faces budgetary constraints.
Medium-ranking Brazil, while improving its CCPI ranking since president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office last year, fell five ranks on the year to 28th, given the country's continuously strong reliance on fossil fuels, and despite lower deforestation rates.
Unlike previous editions, no EU country received an overall "very low" rating. Bulgaria, at 50th, is the worst performing EU country.
The four last-placed countries in the CCPI — Iran (67th) at the bottom, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Russia — number among the world's largest oil and gas producers.These countries not only emit high volumes of GHG, but also – largely – lack emissions policies or climate regulation, with no discernible shift away from the fossil fuel business model and a proportion of renewables in their respective energy mix that is below 3pc, according to the NGOs.
Co-author Niklas Hoehne from NewClimate said that there are many signs that the world is at a turning point, and that the peak in global emissions is "within reach", though US president-elect Donald Trump could act as a "brake" on the now necessary rapid cuts in emissions. The US occupy an unchanged 57th position.
Burck said that China, falling to 55th from 51st position, faces a "huge" opportunity to gain international recognition, as the country's GHG emissions appear to have almost peaked, and as it experiences an unprecedented boom in renewable energies. What is now needed is a "clear move away from fossil fuels", Burck said. This clear move is not yet apparent, but this could change with the country's upcoming new five-year plan. In this case, China could "quickly" climb up the index, Burck said.
