India has ascended to the seventh position in this year’s Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), showcasing a commendable improvement from its previous ranking. This significant announcement came during the global climate meet COP28 held in Dubai, where India reaffirmed its status among the top performers for the fifth consecutive year.

As its website states, the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) is an instrument to enable transparency in national and international climate politics. As an independent monitoring tool, the CCPI has a leading role in informing on the Paris Agreement’s implementation phase.

It creates transparency in climate policy, makes it possible to compare climate protection efforts, and tracks progress and setbacks. It uses a standardized framework to compare the climate performance of 63 countries and the EU, which together account for over 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The performance is assessed in four categories: greenhouse gas (GHG) Emissions, Renewable Energy, Energy Use and Climate Policy.

The report lists India’s ranking as seventh in this year´s CCPI, up one spot from the previous CCPI and remaining among the highest performers. India receives a high ranking in the GHG Emissions and Energy Use categories, but a medium in Climate Policy and Renewable Energy, as in the previous year. It states that while India is the world’s most populous country, it has relatively low per capita emissions. The data shows that in the per capita GHG category, the country is on track to meet a benchmark of well below 2°C.

However, while it shows a slightly positive trend in the share of renewable energy, this trend is advancing too slowly. India has relatively high taxes on petrol and diesel, which are intended to act as carbon taxes. The impact of these taxes on consumption remains disputed. While some experts describe them as an effective tool to reduce the consumption of petrol and diesel, others point to the high dependence of the government on these tax revenues.

The CCPI country experts report that India is trying to meet its National Determined Contribution (NDC), with clear long-term policies in place that focus on promoting renewable energy and providing financial support for domestic manufacturing of renewable energy components. Despite that, India’s growing energy needs are still being met by its heavy reliance on coal, along with oil and gas. This dependence is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and causes severe air pollution, especially in the cities.

The experts in the report say that policymakers should also adopt ecosystem-based solutions and consider equity. They also urge the need for more effective policy implementation that takes a more bottom-up approach, including the demands of tribal and rural communities. Specifically, they call for a faster phase-out of coal, reduced reliance on gas, and expanded renewable energy.

The experts want to see the country fulfil its potential in climate action by moving up the timeline for reaching net zero to no later than 2050. They want to see the creation of people-friendly, climate-friendly, sustainable infrastructure that is affordable, accessible, and available to all, while taking the location’s cultural and social context into account. Overall, the CCPI experts emphasise that while India is among the top performers, it needs to increase its share of renewable energy and raise its targets.

India’s National Statement at COP28 was presented by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mr Bhupender Yadav. He highlighted India’s active role in the global fight against climate change, emphasising the intertwined relationship between people and the planet.

He referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to join Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) as a proof to India’s action-oriented approach. At COP28, India also introduced the Green Credit Initiative, fostering a global platform for innovative environmental programs. Minister Yadav shared India’s achievements, notably the reduction in emission intensity and surpassing the 2030 targets ahead of schedule and achieving 40% of electric installed capacity through non-fossil fuel sources. He also called for trust and confidence in the principles and processes of the convention and the Paris Agreement and urged global collaboration for a greener, cleaner, and healthier planet, emphasising that we share one Earth, one family, and one future.