17:15 10 December 2014
Based on a report released during international talks in Peru, Australia is the worst industrialised country in the world for climate change. It ranked second to the last for its emission levels, lack of progress, renewable energy and national policy.
Meanwhile, the 2015 Climate Change Performance Index named Denmark, Sweden, and UK as the top countries for climate change.
David Cameron said every country needed to “put more on the table” if the world was to reach a successful agreement next year on reducing greenhouse emissions after 2020.
“Countries that have so far done the least have to think about what more they can do,” he told Sky News. “I’ve had good and friendly discussions with prime minister Abbott about that…I hope [Australia will] do everything they can in the coming months to look at what more they can deliver.”
The report said: “The new conservative Australian government has apparently made good on last year’s announcement and reversed the climate policies previously in effect. As a result, the country lost a further 21 positions in the policy evaluation compared to last year, thus replacing Canada as the worst performing industrial country.”
China, the world’s biggest emitter of pollution, was found to be making improvements.