At the latest edition of COP30, held this year in Belém (Brazil), the 2026 report of the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) was released. The CCPI is an international indicator that evaluates countries’ performance in mitigating climate change. According to the 2026 CCPI, Portugal has risen three places in the global ranking and now occupies 12th position among the 63 countries assessed, which together account for around 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

What It means to rise to 12th place
In practice, although Portugal formally ranks 12th, it is “in a moral 9th place” because the top three positions remain empty — signalling that no country is yet fully aligned with the Paris Agreement objective of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

Portugal scored particularly well in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, receiving a “high” rating. In the categories of energy use, renewable energy and climate policy, the rating was “medium.”

Recognition, but with warnings about structural weaknesses
Despite this improvement, several organisations — particularly the NGO ZERO — warn of factors that continue to undermine Portugal’s effective climate transition. Key concerns include:

• The transport sector, which continues to increase emissions: in 2023 it recorded 7% growth, and in 2022 accounted for around 29% of total national emissions.
• The persistence of subsidies and tax exemptions for fossil fuels, which weakens the “carbon price signal,” an essential mechanism to discourage polluting fuels.
• Concerns around renewable energy plans: although there is investment, gaps in land-use planning and environmental impact assessment may compromise both the sustainability of projects and their social acceptance.

For Portugal to consolidate its position among countries with “strong climate performance,” ZERO argues for more ambitious and coherent policies: strengthening sustainable mobility, eliminating fossil fuel incentives, accelerating the energy transition, and adopting a “climate justice” approach to protect vulnerable groups during the transition.

International Context: A ranking still far from ideal
The CCPI covers 63 countries responsible for the overwhelming majority of global emissions and aims to compare each nation’s climate performance.

In the 2026 edition, the top three ranking positions remain vacant: even the best-performing countries have not yet done enough to be truly aligned with the Paris Agreement objectives.

Countries with the best placements include Denmark, recognised for renewable energy — especially offshore — the United Kingdom, which has already phased out coal and moved up one position; and Morocco, valued for public transport policies and ambitious climate targets.

Conversely, several G20 countries continue to show “very low” performance, highlighting that the global energy transition remains unequal and insufficient in the face of climate challenges.

Conclusion: Visible progress, but still a long way to go
Portugal’s rise in the CCPI is unquestionably a positive sign: it demonstrates that the country has made progress in reducing emissions and formulating climate policies with some degree of effectiveness. However, ZERO’s warnings and the data from problematic sectors — particularly transport and fossil fuel dependence — show that performance is still below ideal levels.

For Portugal to aspire to a “moral top tier” in the fight against climate change — and not merely a respectable statistical position — it will be necessary to reinforce structural measures, ensure policy coherence and accelerate the energy and mobility transition. Otherwise, environmental, economic and health risks associated with emissions may undermine recent gains.

Andreia Arenga
04.12.2025

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