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.