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) × 100
Inverse indicators (lower = better):
score = 100 − normalized
Domain score (weighted average of its indicators):
domain_score = Σ (indicator_score × weight) ÷ Σ weight
Total score:
total = 0.30×Emissions + 0.25×Energy + 0.15×Economy + 0.15×Responsibility + 0.15×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 points
Climate leader — top global performance across most domains
80–89 points
Strong performer — well above average on most indicators
70–79 points
Good progress — above average, some areas for improvement
60–69 points
Moderate action — meeting international averages
50–59 points
Below average — meaningful gaps in several domains
40–49 points
Significant gaps — lagging on most climate indicators
25–39 points
Low performance — urgent improvement needed
0–24 points
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 (EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5), GDP per capita
- Ember Climate:Renewable electricity %, fossil %, grid carbon intensity
- Our World in Data / Global Carbon Project:Cumulative CO₂, global share, temperature attribution
- Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN):Country readiness and vulnerability indices
Scores updated annually. Current scoring year: 2024. VisualClimate is an independent platform and 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.