Manama: GCC countries achieved notable progress in the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) Index, with the bloc’s overall average score rising to 41.5 in 2024 compared with 37.7 in 2023, according to data from the GCC Statistical Centre.

According to Bahrain News Agency, the data showed that three GCC countries topped the index at the Middle East and North Africa level. The CCE Index is a comprehensive tool that measures the progress of 125 countries worldwide towards achieving net-zero emissions through the circular carbon economy framework, which balances mitigation technologies and enabling tools.

GCC states advanced in the performance index, which measures the use of emission mitigation technologies, scoring 35.8 in 2024, up from 29.7 in 2023. They also improved in the enablers index, which measures readiness for transitioning to a low-carbon economy, recording 47.2 points compared with 45.6 in 2023.

The data also indicated that GCC countries made a significant leap in their contribution to global renewable energy plants. The share of GCC installed design capacity for renewable energy reached 0.43% of the global total in 2024, compared with 0.03% in 2015.

The GCC Supreme Council emphasised adopting the key pillars of the energy transition-energy security, economic development, and climate change-through sustainable investments in hydrocarbon resources, with member states following the four pillars of the CCE approach: reducing, reusing, recycling, and removing emissions.