CCPI 2026: ‘Clearly visible progress’ in how countries are addressing climate change – except in petrostates

Denmark, the UK and Morocco stand out for their climate policies and energy transition pace in this year’s Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI 2026), while the US, Iran and Saudi Arabia are ranked last.

The tenth annual review of countries’ climate policies and alignment with the Paris Agreement paints an ambivalent picture: on the one hand, several countries are demonstrating visible progress and ambition, while on the other, petrostates are still slowing down the global transition.

UK climbs one place, overtaking Netherlands

As in previous years, the report’s authors, which include Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute and CAN International, have chosen to leave the top three ranks vacant to illustrate the fact that no country is fully aligned with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5ºC temperature limit. 

Denmark remains the top-ranked country at number 4, ranking first in climate policy and being one of only three countries with a ‘very high’ rating in renewable energies. Denmark is followed by the United Kingdom, which has climbed one place and taken the Netherland’s fifth spot, largely thanks to the phase-out of coal power. However, the report warns that the country still has to catch up on others when it comes to renewable energy (ranked ‘low‘). 

Morocco comes in 6th place, scoring ‘good’ in all categories except renewable energies, where the trend is nevertheless ‘good’. The authors note that they were impressed with the country’s major investments in public transport and a respectable new climate target for 2035.

Niklas Höhne of NewClimate Institute, co-author of the CCPI, commented: “While we cannot yet attest to any country having very good climate mitigation performance overall, there are pioneers in some categories who are demonstrating ambitious performance. Pakistan, for example, is a surprise contender in terms of emissions and energy consumption thanks to its very low per capita figures. As in previous years, Norway, Denmark and Sweden are setting the standards in renewable energies.”

Pace remains too slow to meet Paris Agreement goals

Although there are some clear signs of progress, the ranking warns that the world is still off track to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – largely due to a lack of climate ambition from petrostates. The three last-placed countries in the CCPI are Saudi Arabia (67), Iran (66), and the US (65). 

“The USA has suffered a particularly remarkable decline – ranking third to last in the overall standings just behind Russia. The largest oil- and gas-producing countries are virtually among themselves and show no sign of departing from fossil fuels as a business model. This means they are missing out on an opportunity to embrace the future,” explained Thea Uhlich (Germanwatch), another co-author. 

India also fell this year, to the 23rd place, due to steadily rising emissions and energy consumption, and because it lacks a plan to phase out coal. 

G20 not doing enough

Among the world’s largest economies, the G20, together responsible for more than 75% of global emissions, only one country (the UK) has achieved a high ranking, while 10 are still classified as ‘very low’: Turkey, China, Australia, Japan, Argentina, Canada, Korea, Russia, the US and Saudi Arabia

The largest carbon emitter, China (54), has improved by one place, largely thanks to its electrification policies, but remains at a very low rating. In the first quarter of 2025, China's emissions declined – which the authors see as a potential indication that emissions in China have peaked. 

“Although China is a pioneer in green technologies – there is an ongoing boom in electric cars, batteries and renewable energies – and has set a relatively ambitious climate target, it is simultaneously expanding its fossil fuel production. It is important for China that the expansion of renewable energy and e-mobility goes hand in hand with the phase-out of fossil fuels, not only to prevent emissions from rising further, but also to bring them down quickly,” the report adds.