Colombia Plunges in Global Ranking for Climate-Change Mitigation Performance – ColombiaOne.com

Report on Colombia’s Climate Change Performance and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Setback for Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action)

Recent assessments indicate a significant regression in Colombia’s performance in addressing climate change, posing a direct challenge to the nation’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action). International evaluations, including the 2026 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), reveal a decline in environmental sustainability rankings. This report analyzes these findings, focusing on the gap between stated climate policies and tangible progress toward key SDGs.

Analysis of the 2026 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)

Overall Ranking and Implications for SDG 13

The CCPI, which evaluates the climate mitigation efforts of 63 countries and the European Union, highlights a concerning trend for Colombia. The nation’s performance has resulted in a significant drop in the global ranking.

• Overall Position: Colombia is ranked 36th, a decline of nine places from the previous year.
• Performance Category: The country is now classified in the “Low” performance category with a score of 54.45.
• SDG 13 Impact: This downward trajectory signals substantial difficulties in achieving the targets set under SDG 13, which urges immediate action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Performance Across Key Categories and Related SDGs

Colombia’s overall score is a composite of its performance in four distinct categories, each linked to specific Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions (Ranked 47th): This low ranking reflects the nation’s high polluting capacity as a major oil producer, directly conflicting with the objectives of SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
2. Renewable Energy (Ranked 45th): The country’s poor performance in this area indicates slow progress in transitioning its energy matrix, a critical component for achieving SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
3. Energy Use (Ranked 10th): This relatively strong ranking suggests a higher level of energy efficiency, which positively contributes to SDG 7 and SDG 12. However, it is not sufficient to offset the negative impacts of GHG emissions and low renewable energy adoption.
4. Climate Policy (Ranked 25th): A mid-level ranking in this category points to a disconnect between policy formulation and effective implementation, hindering the governance frameworks needed to support the entire 2030 Agenda.

Challenges to Achieving SDG 7: The Energy Transition Dilemma

Policy Ambition vs. Socio-Economic Pressures

The Colombian government’s efforts to advance SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) through policies such as halting new oil exploration licenses face considerable resistance. This creates a conflict between environmental goals and economic stability.

• Economic Concerns: The oil sector and political opposition have raised concerns that a rapid transition jeopardizes Colombia’s energy sovereignty and economic growth, highlighting the challenges of balancing SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) with environmental targets.
• Lack of Political Consensus: The absence of a unified political vision is a primary obstacle. This failure to build internal consensus undermines SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), which is essential for mobilizing the collective action required for a successful and just energy transition.

Conclusion: A Call for Renewed Commitment to the 2030 Agenda

Colombia’s decline in the CCPI rankings serves as a critical alert. The lack of progress in key areas threatens the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals. To regain momentum, a coherent and collaborative strategy is imperative.

Recommendations

• Foster Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (SDG 17): A national dialogue involving the government, private sector, and civil society is necessary to build the political consensus required to implement a sustainable energy transition.
• Align Economic and Environmental Policies: Develop a clear roadmap that integrates climate action (SDG 13) with economic planning (SDG 8), ensuring a just transition that does not compromise energy security.
• Accelerate Investment in Clean Energy (SDG 7 & SDG 9): Prioritize public and private investment in renewable energy infrastructure and innovation to improve the country’s performance and meet its commitments under SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The article extensively discusses the challenges of Colombia’s energy transition, its performance in renewable energy, and its energy use, which are central themes of this goal.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: This is the primary focus of the article. It revolves around Colombia’s performance in mitigating climate change, its greenhouse gas emissions, and its climate policies, as measured by the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI).
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article mentions international climate policy, global summits like COP30, and the use of international monitoring tools like the CCPI, highlighting the importance of global partnerships and coherent policies to address climate change.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
  • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article directly addresses this by noting Colombia’s poor ranking (45th) in the Renewable Energy category and the difficulties in moving toward a “greener, more sustainable energy matrix.”
  • Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. This is relevant as the article points out Colombia’s relatively high ranking (10th) in the “Energy Use” category of the CCPI, which is a measure related to energy efficiency.
• SDG 13: Climate Action
  • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article highlights a gap between Colombia’s climate policy announcements and their actual implementation, as reflected in its 25th place ranking in the Climate Policy category and the overall drop in its CCPI standing. The lack of political consensus is cited as a major barrier.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
  • Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development. The article underscores a lack of coherence between international declarations made at summits and the national realities in Colombia, pointing to political and economic pressures that hinder a unified strategy.
  • Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development. The article references international mechanisms like the CCPI and global forums such as COP30, which are essential components of the global partnership for monitoring progress, sharing knowledge, and agreeing on financing for climate action.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI): The entire article is based on this index, which serves as a comprehensive indicator to “evaluate the performance of 63 countries and the European Union (EU) in mitigating climate change.”
• Overall Country Ranking and Score: The article specifies Colombia’s rank (36th), its drop by nine positions, and its score (54.45) as direct indicators of its overall performance in climate action.
• Category-Specific Rankings: The article provides specific rankings that act as indicators for different aspects of climate and energy policy:
  • Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Ranking (47th): This measures the country’s performance in reducing emissions, directly related to SDG 13. The article notes that “greenhouse gas emissions remain sky-high.”
  • Renewable Energy Ranking (45th): This serves as an indicator for progress towards Target 7.2, showing a low performance in increasing the share of renewables.
  • Energy Use Ranking (10th): This is an indicator for Target 7.3, suggesting better performance in energy efficiency compared to other areas.
  • Climate Policy Ranking (25th): This measures the effectiveness and implementation of national policies, relevant to Target 13.2.
• Political Consensus: While not a quantitative metric, the article implies that the level of political consensus on energy transition is a critical qualitative indicator for achieving policy coherence (Target 17.14) and implementing climate strategies (Target 13.2).

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary

Source: colombiaone.com