The latest Climate Change Performance Index for 2026 has delivered sobering news for India, with the country slipping significantly in global climate performance rankings while Denmark emerged as the world leader in climate action.
Global Climate Rankings Revealed
According to the report published on Tuesday during the ongoing UN COP30 Climate Summit, Denmark secured the top position with 80.52 points, though technically ranking fourth since the first three places remain vacant. No country managed to achieve an overall "very high" rating, indicating that global climate efforts still fall short of what's needed.
The United Kingdom followed closely behind Denmark with 70.8 points, while Morocco claimed the sixth position with 70.75 points. The rankings paint a concerning picture of global climate action, with the report explicitly stating that "no country is doing enough to prevent dangerous climate change" despite years of international concern and debate.
India's Disappointing Slide
India experienced one of the most significant declines in this year's index, falling 13 places from its previous 10th position to stand at 23rd globally. The country received an overall score of 61.31 points, resulting in a downgrade from 'high performer' to 'medium performer' status.
The Climate Change Performance Index report, jointly published by Germanwatch, the NewClimate Institute, and the Climate Action Network, highlighted several factors contributing to India's decline. The country was identified among the world's largest producers of oil, gas, and coal, which significantly impacted its ranking.
India's performance across different categories showed a mixed picture. The nation scored medium ratings in greenhouse gas emissions, climate policy, and energy use, but received a concerning low rating in renewable energy adoption, indicating areas requiring immediate attention and improvement.
Global Leaders and Laggards
The top ten performing countries in the Climate Change Performance Index 2026 include several European nations alongside some surprising entries. Chile secured the seventh position with 70.63 points, while Luxembourg and Lithuania followed closely at eighth and ninth places respectively. The Netherlands rounded out the top ten with 67.27 points.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Saudi Arabia ranked at the very bottom of the index with a meager 11.9 points. Iran followed as the second-worst performer with 14.33 points, while the United States ranked 65th with 21.84 points.
The report particularly emphasized the poor performance of the world's largest emitters. China ranked 54th while the United States stood at 65th position, highlighting the significant challenge facing major industrialized nations in transitioning to sustainable climate practices.
Other countries in the bottom ten included the Russian Federation, Korea, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Kazakhstan, Chinese Taipei, and Argentina, all scoring below 35 points in the comprehensive assessment.
Broader Implications and Context
The 2026 Climate Change Performance Index arrives at a critical juncture in global climate negotiations. The report's publication during the COP30 summit underscores the urgent need for accelerated action from all nations, particularly those with high emissions and developing economies like India.
India's decline in the rankings comes despite the country's international commitments and domestic initiatives toward climate action. The drop suggests that while progress may be happening, it's not occurring at the pace required to meet global climate targets and compete with other nations' accelerating efforts.
The comprehensive assessment evaluates countries across four key categories: greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, energy use, and climate policy. The vacant top three positions serve as a stark reminder that even the best-performing nations have substantial room for improvement in the global fight against climate change.
