LThe “Climate change performance index” (CCPI) has been published every year since 2005, on the sidelines of UN conferences on climate change, by the NGOs Germanwatch, the NewClimate Institute and the Climate Action Network. It was established with the assistance of around 450 energy and climate experts, many of whom are members of environmental NGOs.
The tool, which presents itself as independent, analyzes the policies of around sixty countries and the European Union, which represent more than 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions, in the light of a small fifteen criteria divided into four categories: greenhouse gas emissions, use of renewable energies, energy efficiency and climate policy. This 2025 version of the CCPI is based on data from 2023.
According to the ranking, despite an improvement of four places over one year which gives it 35th place this year, Belgium is given a general mention of “low” for a result which, ultimately, is not deemed aligned with the objectives of the Paris climate agreement, namely keeping global warming well below +2°C and doing everything possible to contain it to +1.5°C.
“Average” rating
In detail, the score given to our country is “average” for the aspect linked to greenhouse gas emissions, “low” in terms of renewable energies (around 25% of the energy mix in 2023) and policy. climatic and “very low” in terms of energy consumption.
The experts who analyzed Belgium’s performance, and who wished to remain anonymous, are calling for “a more ambitious National Energy and Climate Plan (PNEC) in line with European carbon neutrality objectives”. They also suggest that our country adopt an adaptation plan that ensures protection against flooding, water management and the resilience of urban centers.
As usual, the first three places in the “Climate change performance index” are left vacant, with no country analyzed pursuing a climate policy deemed by the authors of the comparison to be sufficiently ambitious with regard to the objective of containing warming to +1.5 °C.
Fourth place, which therefore recognizes the most deserving country in the ranking, goes to Denmark for the fourth consecutive year, ahead of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, which jumped 14 places in one year. The European Union as a whole ranks 17th (-1). India ranks 10th in the CCPI (-3), Germany 16th (-2) and France 25th (+12).
The last two places in the climate performance index are again occupied by Saudi Arabia (66th) and Iran (67th), which this year swapped their positions in the ranking. The United Arab Emirates, hosts of COP28 last year in Dubai, remain second to none (65th place). Azerbaijan, which currently chairs COP29 in Baku, is not included in the ranking.
The two main emitters of greenhouse gases in the world, China and the United States, rank 55th (-4) and 57th (=) respectively.
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