Evaluating European Union Countries on Climate Change Management: A Fuzzy MABAC Approach to the Climate Change Performance Index

Abstract

This study was undertaken to assess the implementation effectiveness of climate change management strategies across European Union (EU) member states, employing data from the annually published Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI). The index includes assessments for 36 countries in addition to the EU member states, with evaluations presented through linguistic values. To ascertain the rankings of the EU countries, a fuzzy set approach was adopted, applying the fuzzy Multi-Attributive Border Approximation area Comparison (MABAC) method. Weights were derived directly from the original CCPI report. The analysis revealed that Denmark secured the highest ranking, aligning with its position in the CCPI, albeit the ranking sequence determined through the fuzzy MABAC method diverged from the original report's order. This discrepancy is attributed to the distinct characteristics and specificities of the fuzzy set approach. Sensitivity analysis within this study highlighted that certain criteria exert a more pronounced influence on the rankings, suggesting that heightened emphasis on these specific criteria could enhance the positioning of individual EU countries. Furthermore, this research elucidates the application of fuzzy methodologies in climate change impact mitigation and provides a structured guideline for their implementation. The findings advocate for a nuanced understanding of criteria significance in climate change performance assessments, offering a comprehensive framework for evaluating and improving EU countries' climate management practices.

A Novel Hybrid Fuzzy Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making Model for the Selection of the Most Suitable Land Reclamation Variant at Open-Pit Coal Mines

“…In each MCDM model, criteria play an important role, and by simulating their weights through new scenarios, it is possible to identify a potential change in the ranks of alternatives [42,43], i.e., in this case, reclamation solutions. Thus, it is possible to include all potential results and their changes and strive towards their proactive management.…”