Cyprus needs to raise climate ambitions says report

Cyprus fell 17 places this year to rank 46 out of the total 56 countries evaluated by the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2019.

Cyprus received a rating of “very low” for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with the island ranking third from the bottom in terms of emissions per capita compared to the central target of the Paris Agreement, which seeks to keep global temperature rise this century well below 2C.

Cyprus also ranked low, 37th, for its current share of renewable energy in total energy use, and in 28th place compared to the Paris Agreement’s 2030 renewable energy target.

An evaluation of Cyprus’ national climate policy placed it 33rd while when compared international climate policies, Cyprus ranked lower, 45th.

Overall, the CCPI 2019 highlighted the necessity for Cyprus to raise its ambitions and implement concrete measures toward the global goals set by the Paris Agreement.

The index aims “to put political and social pressure on those countries, which have, up until now, failed to take ambitious action on climate protection”, and to evaluate and compare “the climate protection performance of 56 countries and the EU, which are together responsible for more than 90 per cent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.”

CCPI 2019 results showed that no country performed well enough to receive a ranking of “very good”, with the index’s first three positions remaining blank.

Sweden led the ranking in position four, followed by Morocco and Lithuania, while the bottom five positions were occupied by Saudi Arabia, the US, Iran, Korea and Chinese Taipei, which all scored “low” or “very low” across almost all categories.

Countries’ performances were evaluated on the basis of 14 indicators within GHG emissions, renewable energy, energy use and climate policy.

“As we approach the year 2020, when countries need to submit their amended national climate targets, the CCPI aims to inform the process of raising climate ambition,” the organisation said.