In international environmental politics, which of the following countries has consistently ranked at or near the top in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) for strong climate policies and emission reduction performance among the given options?

Introduction / Context:
The Climate Change Performance Index, often abbreviated as CCPI, is an independent monitoring tool that evaluates and compares the climate protection performance of many countries. It looks at greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, energy use, and climate policy. This question checks if you know which of the listed countries is widely recognised for being a very strong performer in this index.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on the Climate Change Performance Index.
• The question asks which country tops, or is placed at or near the top, in the ranking.
• Options given are Saudi Arabia, India, Sweden, and New Zealand.
• We assume typical CCPI patterns observed in recent years where some high performing European countries regularly appear at the top among evaluated nations.

Concept / Approach:
In many annual CCPI reports, Sweden has been recognised as one of the best performing countries in terms of climate protection. The index often does not award rank 1 to 3 if no country meets the ideal criteria, but among those listed, Sweden usually receives the highest numerical position due to ambitious climate targets, strong renewable energy share, and progressive policy framework. India and New Zealand have achieved medium to good ratings, while Saudi Arabia generally ranks low because of high emissions and limited climate action.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider which of the four countries is well known for strong climate policies and high use of renewables.Step 2: Recall that Sweden has legally binding climate goals, high carbon taxation, and significant renewable energy use.Step 3: Remember that CCPI assessments often place Sweden at or near the top of the table among evaluated countries.Step 4: Compare this with the remaining options, which have more mixed or weaker climate records.Step 5: Select Sweden as the country that tops or is very close to the top in CCPI rankings among the choices given.

Verification / Alternative check:
Even without memorising the exact report year, general knowledge about climate leadership helps. Sweden is frequently mentioned in climate discussions as a leading example, while Saudi Arabia is often criticised for dependence on fossil fuels. India and New Zealand have improved their scores but are usually not at the absolute top. This pattern confirms that Sweden is the best supported answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Saudi Arabia typically receives very low scores due to high per capita emissions and limited structural change away from oil. India has improved its climate performance but still faces development challenges and higher overall emissions, so it is usually rated as medium performance, not at the very top. New Zealand has positive policies but also faces agricultural emission issues and does not consistently lead the index. Hence these countries do not match the description of topping the CCPI among the given options.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may guess India because of frequent news about renewable energy targets, or New Zealand due to its green image. Others might not know that the CCPI often places European countries ahead. Reviewing which countries are climate leaders according to independent indices can help prevent such confusion.

Final Answer:
The country that has consistently ranked at or near the top in the Climate Change Performance Index among these options is Sweden.