Measuring the performance of climate action of OIC countries

Purpose This study aims to measure the efficiency of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries in achieving SDG 13 during the 2014–2023 period. Design/methodology/approach This study uses data envelopment analysis (DEA)-Slacks-based measure (SBM) model. The model is applied using total capital and total labor as input variables, while the output variables include gross domestic product (GDP), people affected by disasters and Official Development Assistance (ODA) grants for poverty reduction. The analysis is conducted using secondary data from SESRIC, covering 21 OIC countries. Findings The analysis reveals that the efficiency level of OIC countries in achieving SDG 13 fluctuates annually but shows an increasing trend. However, efficiency scores remain relatively low. No OIC country has achieved optimal efficiency, with Gambia recording the highest efficiency score and Egypt the lowest. Regionally, OIC-Africa exhibits the highest average efficiency score. Additionally, potential improvement analysis indicates that inefficiency is primarily driven by GDP and ODA grants for poverty reduction. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to efficiency measurement based on specific input and output variables, which may not capture all aspects influencing SDG 13 achievements. Practical implications This study provides policy recommendations for stakeholders to strengthen governance frameworks and climate action policies. Originality/value This research contributes to the literature by offering a comprehensive efficiency assessment of OIC countries in achieving SDG 13 using DEA-SBM, highlighting regional disparities and key inefficiency drivers.