Methodology
How the Climate Report Card Works
Each country receives a score based on 9 indicators across 5 climate domains. Scores are normalized against all countries with available data, so grades reflect relative global performance rather than absolute thresholds.
Scoring Formula
For each indicator:
normalized = (value - min) / (max - min) x 100
Inverse indicators (lower = better):
score = 100 - normalized
Domain score (weighted average):
domain_score = sum(indicator_score x weight) / sum(weight)
Total score:
total = 0.30 x Emissions + 0.25 x Energy + 0.15 x Economy + 0.15 x Responsibility + 0.15 x Resilience
Countries missing more than 2 of 5 domains are excluded from scoring. Domain scores are re-weighted to sum to 1.0 when a domain is missing.
5 Scoring Domains
Emissions
| Indicator | Source | Direction | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| CO2 per capita | World Bank / Climate Watch | Lower is better | 50% |
| CO2 per GDP | Derived (CO2 / GDP/capita) | Lower is better | 30% |
| Decoupling index | Derived (GDP CAGR - CO2 CAGR) | Higher is better | 20% |
Energy
| Indicator | Source | Direction | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renewable electricity % | Ember | Higher is better | 60% |
| Grid carbon intensity | Ember | Lower is better | 40% |
Economy
| Indicator | Source | Direction | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per capita | World Bank | Higher enables climate action | 50% |
| CO2 per GDP | Derived | Lower is better | 50% |
Responsibility
| Indicator | Source | Direction | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share of global cumulative CO2 | Our World in Data / GCP | Lower = less historical burden | 100% |
Resilience
| Indicator | Source | Direction | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| ND-GAIN Readiness | Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative | Higher is better | 60% |
| ND-GAIN Vulnerability | Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative | Lower is better | 40% |
Grade Thresholds
90-100
Climate leader — top global performance across most domains
80-89
Strong performer — well above average on most indicators
70-79
Good progress — above average, some areas for improvement
60-69
Moderate action — meeting international averages
50-59
Below average — meaningful gaps in several domains
40-49
Significant gaps — lagging on most climate indicators
25-39
Low performance — urgent improvement needed
0-24
Critical — among the worst performers globally
Limitations
- Relative scoring: Grades measure performance relative to other countries, not against a climate-safe absolute benchmark.
- Data gaps: Countries with missing indicators are penalized through domain exclusion, which may understate scores for less-monitored nations.
- Structural factors: Cold climates, landlocked geography, and development stage affect energy use in ways the score does not fully adjust for.
- Policy lag: Many indicators reflect outcomes from policies enacted years earlier, not current commitments.
Primary Data Sources
- World Bank / Climate Watch:CO2 per capita, GDP per capita
- Ember Climate:Renewable electricity %, fossil %, grid carbon intensity
- Our World in Data / GCP:Cumulative CO2, global share, temperature attribution
- ND-GAIN:Country readiness and vulnerability indices
Scores updated annually. Current scoring year: 2024. VisualClimate is not affiliated with any of the above organizations.
See the methodology in action
Search any country to view its report card with scores across all 5 domains.