Key developments

After the sharp 5.2% drop in CO2 emissions in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021 rebounded, increasing by 6% and reaching a record high.[1] The CCPI results reflect this.

The current IPCC report indicates global emissions must be halved by 2030 (compared with 2020 levels) to keep global warming within the 1.5°C reach.[2] A strong rebound effect was expected, but now the countries need to intensify their efforts. Collectively, the countries the CCPI covered are responsible for more than 92% of all GHG emissions.

Key results:

• Chile and Sweden are at the top, receiving a very high rating in this category.

G20-performance:

• Only three G20 countries – the United Kingdom, India, and Germany – receive an overall high rating.
• Eight G20 countries are among the very low performers, including China, South Korea, Canada, and the United States. Most G20 countries show worse performance than in the previous year and only four improve their ranking in this category.
• As in the previous years, Saudi Arabia remains the worst-performing G20 country.

EU performance: 

•  As in previous years, the EU rates medium for its overall performance, but this year it drops one rank to 24.
•  The best-performing EU country is Sweden at 3rd, though Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Malta, and Germany rate high in this category.
• Ireland, Poland, and Cyprus are the only EU countries to receive a very low.

[1] IEA (2022), Global Energy Review: CO2 Emissions in 2021, IEA, Paris. Available at

[2] IPCC (2021) AR 6 Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. : Available at

Key developments:

Renewable energy capacity continues to expand at a high pace amidst the economic recovery after the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes despite supply chain challenges. In 2021, 257 GW of capacity was installed globally.[1]

Nonetheless, the energy system worldwide is still heavily dependent on fossil fuels.[2] This is despite the fact wind and solar power generation are the cheapest sources of new electricity generation in most of the world.[3]

Key results:

The energy sector greatly contributes to a country’s GHG emissions. Therefore, the results of the Renewable Energy rating indicate substantial room for improvement in mitigating emissions by accelerating deployment of renewable energy.

• For the second year running, Norway receives a very high in this category.
• Algeria, Iran, and Russia are at the bottom.

G20-performance:

•  Eleven G20 countries rank low or very low, with the United States, Mexico, and Russia among them.
• Brazil, Indonesia, Turkey, and China are the only G20 members receiving a high.

EU performance:

• The EU’s performance shows no improvement from that in last year’s CCPI, as it rates medium.
• Ten EU countries receive a high, including Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Austria.
• As in previous years, no EU country performs very low. Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, France, Slovak Republic and Romania are the worst-performing EU countries.

[1] IRENA (2022), Renewable Energy Statistics 2022, The International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi

[2] https://www.renewable-ei.org/en/activities/column/REupdate/20221006.php

[3] https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2022/Jul/IRENA_Power_Generation_Costs_2021_Summary.pdf?la=en&hash=C0C810E72185BB4132AC5EA07FA26C669D3AFBFC.

Key developments:

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent slowdown of economic activity led to a 4% decrease in energy demand in 2020. However, a strong rebound was expected for 2021, as economic activity increased. The IEA estimated the global energy demand to rebound after its drop, increasing 4% in 2021 and returning to pre-pandemic levels.[1]

Key results:

• No country receives a very high; with Colombia, Egypt, and the Philippines, three countries from the Global South, leading this category.
• Finland, Kazakhstan, and Canada, like last year, bring up the rear.

G20-performance:

• Of the G20 countries, seven perform very low.
• The United Kingdom, India, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, and Brazil receive a high. All other G20 members are ranked medium (except for Turkey, which is a low).

EU performance: 

• As in previous years, the EU ranks medium in this category.
• Four EU countries, including Greece and Romania, perform high; while Sweden, and Finland are very low.

[1] IEA (2021), Energy Efficiency 2021, IEA, Paris

Key developments:

In light of the energy crisis, initiated by Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine, climate policy fades into the background this year. Australia submitted a stronger National Determined Contribution (NDC) in 2022 and is, thus, the only G20 country to increase its ambition. Brazil and India did not increase their targets with their new NDCs.[1] The UN United in Science Report states that the progress in NDC improvement is insufficient for keeping 1.5°C in reach.[2]

In the Climate Policy indicators in CCPI 2023, not only are national emissions targets assessed, but also sectoral targets and their specific implementation.

Key results: Climate Policy rating

• Only four countries receive a high for overall performance: Denmark, Morocco, the Netherlands, and the EU.

G20 performance:

• The EU is the only G20 member with a high in this category.
• Ten of the G20 countries rate low or very low, with Brazil, Turkey, and Russia as the worst performers.

EU performance:

• Denmark, an EU country, leads the Climate Policy ranking, owing to its national and international climate performance. The Netherlands is the only other EU country with a high rating.
• Ten EU countries receive a low or very low, with Poland and Hungary as the worst performers.

[1] https://climateactiontracker.org/climate-target-update-tracker-2022/

[2] https://unfccc.int/news/united-in-science-we-are-heading-in-the-wrong-direction