The Climate Change Performance Index

Corresponding to the record breaking global emissions of
the last years, the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in our
atmosphere already exceeds the historic value of 400ppm.
If this trend is not inverted, our chances to stay below the
2 °C guardrail and thus avoid climate change with all its expected
impacts are virtually zero. At the moment we are
heading towards an average global warming of 4 to 6 °C.
The subsequent worldwide dramatic consequences are impressively
documented in the World Bank report "Turn down
the Heat". The World Energy Outlook from the IEA states
clearly that, if we want to protect our atmosphere properly,
two-thirds of the available fossil fuel resources must remain
in the ground.
At the same time the future of our energy supply system is at
a crossroads. For one thing, we may well be seeing the start
of a new fossil age. The shale gas revolution in the United
States, the tar sands in Canada and a lot of other unconventional
new sources of fossil fuels are being exploited right
now. This new supply is driving down the price of conventional
fossil fuels.
For another, we witness massive investment in renewable
energy all over the world. Renewable energy technologies
are constantly improving and the costs involved are sinking
at an impressive pace. Especially wind and solar energy may
soon provide a sustainable and affordable energy alternative.
The competition of the two supply systems - new fossil
fuels vs. renewable energies - has not been decided yet. But
this competition is one key issue and will be decisive for the
success or failure of decarbonisation process. The other key
issue is energy efficiency. We must produce our electricity
and goods much more efficiently, yet simultaneously avoid
rebound effects that are typically associated with gains in
efficiency.
The two most-promising strategies for a low-carbon future,
that is large-scale deployment of renewable energies and
efficiency improvements, play a prominent role in the methodology
of the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI).
The Climate Change Performance Index was developed to
accompany countries along this low-carbon pathway as
well as to point out the weaknesses and strengths in the
development of their national and international climate
policies.
Twenty percent of global emissions derive from deforestation
and forest degradation. The loss of the Earth's green
lungs is one of the main drivers of global temperature rise.
For the fourth time now, the Index includes the emissions
caused by deforestation.
After the twenty-first session of the Conference of the
Parties (COP 21) in Paris 2015, the next years will decide on
the path towards a sustainable future. At COP 21 in Paris,
Germanwatch and the Climate Action Network Europe will
present the Climate Change Performance Index 2016 to the
global public. The aim of the Index is to induce enhanced
action on climate change at both, national and international
level. The Climate Change Performance Index compares
countries by their emissions development, emissions levels,
renewable energy, efficiency and climate policies, thus offering
a comprehensive view of the current efforts of the states
analysed. These are the 58 top emitters that are, together,
responsible for more than 90 percent of the global energyrelated
CO2 emissions.
As has been the case with the previous editions, the Climate
Change Performance Index 2016 would not have been possible
without the help of about 300 climate experts from all
over the world, who evaluated their countries' climate policy.
We would like to express our deep gratitude and thanks to
all of them.
The following publication explains the background and
the methodology of the Climate Change Performance Index.
The results of the CCPI can be accessed online at
www.germanwatch.org/en/ccpi.