New Delhi, Nov 12: India has fallen five places to 28th in the latest Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), reflecting continuing gaps between its expansion of renewable energy capacity and the infrastructure, emissions reductions and policy implementation needed to strengthen its climate performance. Despite progress in solar and wind power, the country received only a medium overall rating, with experts pointing to transmission constraints, inadequate energy storage and uneven enforcement of efficiency standards.
The annual index, published on Thursday during the 31st Conference of Parties (COP31) to the United Nations climate conference in Antalya, Turkey, assesses the climate mitigation performance of 64 countries and the European Union. India retained a medium rating in greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and climate policy, while receiving a high rating for its renewable energy trend.
The CCPI evaluates countries across four categories using 14 indicators. None achieved a sufficiently strong overall performance to secure a very high rating, leaving the first three positions vacant. The report indicates that even the performance of the current frontrunners falls short of what is required to prevent hazardous climate change.
India’s renewable energy expansion remains a key area of progress. Competitive procurement, rooftop solar support and incentives for domestic manufacturing have helped increase deployment. By June 2025, non-fossil fuel sources accounted for 50 per cent of the country’s cumulative installed electricity capacity, reaching the milestone five years before the earlier 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) deadline.
This figure includes nuclear power alongside renewable sources and represents installed capacity rather than the proportion of electricity actually generated.
India’s NDC for 2031-2035 sets three major targets for 2035: reducing the emissions intensity of gross domestic product (GDP) by 47 per cent from 2005 levels, raising non-fossil sources to around 60 per cent of cumulative installed electricity capacity, and creating a forest and tree-cover carbon sink of 3.5-4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent compared with 2005.
However, the report highlights concerns over whether infrastructure development can keep pace with renewable energy capacity. Experts identify shortcomings in transmission, distribution and storage, which can limit the amount of clean electricity delivered to consumers.
Research by energy think tank Ember estimates that India curtailed 2.3 terawatt-hours of solar generation between late May and December 2025 to maintain grid security. Limited flexibility in conventional power generation contributed to these operational constraints.
The report calls for coordinated investment in electricity grids, storage systems, demand flexibility and more adaptable power plant operations to ensure that rising renewable capacity translates into higher clean electricity generation and reduced dependence on fossil fuels.
India has also recorded progress in electric vehicles, industrial energy-efficiency programmes and appliance standards. Since January 2026, the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme has assigned emissions-intensity targets to 490 industrial entities. However, experts have called for stronger targets, reliable verification mechanisms and measurable emissions reductions.
The report also identifies shortcomings in the enforcement and coverage of building energy codes, alongside gaps in appliance compliance, particularly in informal markets.
In urban transport, metro and other urban rail connectivity had expanded to 26 cities by August 2026. While the report recognises public investment in rail infrastructure, some experts argue that climate-friendly mobility also requires affordable bus services, improved public transport quality and greater support for walking and cycling.
The proposed 2035 capacity target also draws differing assessments. Some civil society experts believe India’s recent renewable energy expansion creates scope for more ambitious commitments, while others argue that the country should prioritise delivering on existing targets and projects. The report also notes that the capacity goal depends partly on international technology cooperation and access to low-cost finance.
Experts remain divided over whether India should adopt absolute emissions reduction targets alongside its existing GDP emissions-intensity commitments. Some advocate a gradual transition towards absolute reductions, while others question their near-term feasibility given India’s development requirements and rising electricity demand. Another view favours reporting absolute emissions trends alongside intensity-based targets.
The report further identifies clean electrification in sectors beyond transport, particularly industry, freight and cooking, as an important route to reducing fossil fuel dependence while supporting economic competitiveness and energy security.
