The Philippines dropped 12 places in the 2026 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), ranking 19th overall despite its high exposure to climate impacts. 

The index gives the country high scores in greenhouse gas emissions and energy use but low ratings in renewable energy and climate policy.

According to the CCPI, the Philippines’ renewable energy share remains low, and its climate policy performance is rated “low,” reflecting concerns about implementation and long-term targets. 

The report notes that the country’s renewable energy category rating is also “low,” indicating slow progress in expanding clean power despite its large potential.

Across Asia and globally, the CCPI 2026 results point to a widening divide between climate commitments and implementation. 

Several of the region’s largest economies remain near the bottom of the index, including China at 54th, Japan at 57th, Indonesia at 43rd, and South Korea at 63rd. 

Fossil fuel-dependent countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia occupy the lowest positions overall. Many of these economies received low or very low ratings in greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy development, and climate policy, even as energy demand continues to rise. 

The report highlights steep increases in primary energy use between 2015 and 2023, such as China’s 28.8 percent and Vietnam’s 50.8 percent. 

Globally, no country performs strongly enough to occupy the top three CCPI positions, underscoring what the index describes as continued global underperformance in efforts to keep warming within the 1.5°C threshold of the Paris Agreement.

The Philippines’ decline reflects a widening gap between its climate vulnerability and its mitigating actions. The CCPI states that the country’s policy framework and renewable energy deployment are not yet aligned with the pace required to strengthen climate resilience. 

While the Philippines remains among the higher-performing countries in Asia, its downward movement highlights ongoing challenges in translating commitments into concrete action.

As extreme weather events continue to intensify, the CCPI findings point to the need for stronger regulation, accelerated clean energy investment, and more consistent policy implementation to reduce risks and reinforce long-term climate resilience.