Germany has fallen to 25th place in the 2027 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), its lowest ranking since 2019 and a drop of three places from the previous edition. The index gave Germany an overall “medium” rating.
The annual assessment compares climate action in 64 countries and the European Union, looking at greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, renewable energy and national climate policy. The NewClimate Institute’s release on the 2027 index confirms Germany’s position.
Denmark led the ranking, while the top three places were left vacant because no country was judged to have done enough to meet global climate goals. Fifteen countries received a “high” overall rating, two more than in the previous edition. The European Union rose one place.
Climate policy and energy transition cited
Jan Burck, the index’s lead author, said Germany recorded its worst performance in the national climate policy category. He linked the result to policies pursued by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche, saying measures aimed primarily at increasing natural gas use could weaken the energy transition and make conditions harder for renewable energy and electrification.
A European Commission report published on November 9 said Germany was among nine EU countries at risk of missing their 2030 emissions-reduction targets. The reporting on the ranking also noted that the United Kingdom was the only G20 country to earn a “high” overall rating, at seventh place.
CCPI co-author Niklas Höhne of the NewClimate Institute said governments need to turn the momentum behind renewable technology into sustained emissions reductions. The index’s authors pointed to rapid renewable energy expansion as one factor behind a projected slight decline in emissions, the first since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reid Bentley