ANTALYA — South Korea has once again found itself lagging behind most of the developed world in combating global climate change. According to the newly released Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2027, unveiled during the COP31 climate summit in Turkey, South Korea secured the 61st spot out of 68 evaluated entities.

The annual assessment, compiled by international environmental think tanks Germanwatch and the NewClimate Institute, measures the climate protection performance of nations responsible for over 90 percent of global emissions. Continuing a tradition established in 2009, the report left the top three podium spots empty, emphasizing that no government worldwide is currently doing enough to keep global temperature increases within the limits of the Paris Agreement.

South Korea's overall score rested at 31.07 out of 100, keeping it firmly in the "very low" performance tier alongside major petroleum-producing economies. While the country managed a "moderate" standing in the policy arena—largely driven by its participation in international coal-reduction initiatives—its scores for actual greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy integration, and energy efficiency plummeted. Analysts noted that despite positive momentum in emission reduction speeds and renewable rollout trends, the absolute volume of per capita emissions and the baseline proportions of clean energy remain far below the trajectories required by global climate pacts.

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