Climate Change Performance Index 2024 | 20 Dec 2023

Source: DTE

Why in News?

India's secured 7^th position in recently released Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2024 underscoring its notable role and contribution in the ongoing global efforts aimed at mitigating climate change.

What are the Major Takeaways From CCPI 2024?

• About: CCPI, published annually since 2005, is an independent monitoring tool for tracking countries’ climate protection performance. It increases transparency in national and international climate policy and enables comparison of individual countries’ climate protection efforts and progress.
  • It is published by Germanwatch, the NewClimate Institute, and Climate Action Network International.
  • It indicates the climate mitigation efforts of 63 countries and the EU, which collectively account for over 90% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• Performance Metrics: The CCPI evaluates countries across four key categories: Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions (40%), Renewable Energy (20%), Energy Use (20%), and Climate Policy (20%).
• CCPI 2024: No country performed well enough in all index categories to achieve an overall very high rating. The first three overall positions therefore remain empty.
  • Denmark claimed the 4^th spot, Estonia followed in 5^th place, and the Philippines secured the 6^th position among the top ranks.

• India’s Ranking in CCPI 2024: India secured the 7^th position in the CCPI 2024, exhibiting a stride forward from 8^th spot in CCPI 2023. Interestingly, due to the absence of countries in the first three spots, India effectively stands 4^th in global climate performance.
  • India’s Score and Rankings in Key Categories:
    • GHG Emissions & Energy Use: India ranked 9^th in GHG Emissions and 10^th in Energy Use among assessed countries, largely attributed to its lower per capita energy use, a factor bolstering its climate standing.
      • Also, in the per capita GHG category, the country is on track to meet a benchmark of well below 2°C.
    • Climate Policy: India secured the 10^th spot in Climate Policy, showcasing moderate progress compared to its performance in previous assessments.
    • Renewable Energy: India's performance showed a more moderate rank, standing at 37^th, barely remaining within the 'high' performance category.
      • This position marks a decline from the 24^th spot in CCPI 2023.
• Global Context and Comparative Analysis:
  • Global Trends: The CCPI report highlighted a concerning trend, despite the urgency to decarbonize, global GHG emissions have increased in 2022, with atmospheric CO2 levels soaring 50% higher than pre-industrial levels.
  • G20-performance: With India (7^th), Germany (14^th), and the EU (16^th), only three G20 countries/regions are among the high performers in CCPI 2024.
    • The G20 members account for more than 75% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Developed Countries: Notably, many developed countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy, and others showcased poorer performances compared to the CCPI 2023, reflecting a lack of substantial progress in countering climate change.

What are the Major Challenges Related to Climate Change in India?

• Water Scarcity: Changing rainfall patterns and melting glaciers threaten India’s water security. According to NITI Aayog, best estimates indicate that India's water demand will exceed supply by a factor of two by 2030.
• Agricultural Vulnerability: Climate change affects crop patterns, leading to reduced yields and affecting food security. Increased temperatures and extreme weather events like floods and droughts disrupt farming.
  • According to a 2019 study, extreme weather events cause annual crop losses of about 0.25% of India's GDP.
• Rising Sea Levels: Coastal regions, including major cities like Mumbai and Kolkata, face threats from rising sea levels. This endangers infrastructure, habitats, and the livelihoods of millions.
  • It is estimated that India could lose about 1,500 square kilometers of land by 2050 due to erosion caused by rising seas.
• Air Pollution: India struggles with severe air quality issues, primarily due to vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, and crop burning. Climate change exacerbates this problem, impacting public health and ecosystems.
  • According to a 2022 report, India's average PM2.5 concentration was 53.3 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). This is more than 10 times the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended annual guideline level of 5 μg/m3.
• Urban Heat Island Effect: It exacerbates temperatures in cities, leading to an increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves. This elevates the risk of heat-related illnesses and fatalities, especially among vulnerable populations living in densely populated urban areas.
  • In 2021, the following four Indian cities were among the top 10 cities for heat exposure: New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai.

Way Forward

• Climate-Resilient Crop Varieties: Investing in research and development of genetically modified or selectively bred climate-resilient crop varieties tailored to withstand extreme weather conditions, ensuring food security despite changing climate patterns.
• Vertical Forests in Urban Areas: Constructing vertical forests within urban spaces to enhance green cover and biodiversity while mitigating the urban heat island effect. These structures consist of multiple levels of vegetation on building exteriors, offering ecological benefits and improving air quality.
• Floating Solar Farms: Creating floating solar farms on water bodies like lakes and reservoirs to generate renewable energy. This innovative approach optimizes land use, reduces evaporation from water surfaces, and produces clean energy.
• Community-Based Climate Insurance: Implementing community-driven climate insurance schemes that involve local communities in risk-sharing and climate adaptation strategies. This helps vulnerable populations recover from climate-related disasters.
• Blockchain for Carbon Credits: Utilizing blockchain technology to create transparent and efficient carbon credit systems. This would enable accurate tracking and trading of carbon credits, encouraging businesses and individuals to invest in emission reduction projects.
• Seaweed Farming for Carbon Capture: Encouraging seaweed farming as a method of carbon sequestration. Seaweed absorbs carbon dioxide during growth and can be harvested for various purposes while helping mitigate climate change.
• Incentivizing Climate-Smart Transportation: Implementing incentive-based programs to promote climate-smart transportation, such as offering tax benefits or subsidies for electric vehicles, cycling infrastructure, or carpooling initiatives.