Australia's Effort to Dodge Climate Change Is Officially Embarrassing

United Nations climate talks in Morocco are continuing, and things are getting more awkward for Australia. An international ranking of government climate change action—or inaction—has just been released at the conference, and it highlights how little we're doing compared to most nations on the planet.

The Climate Change Performance Index ranks Australia fifth last out of the 58 countries who are responsible for 90 percent of the world's carbon emissions. We only come out ahead of Korea, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, and Japan.

The index is put together by Climate Action Network Europe and NGO Germanwatch. Greenwatch explains their evaluative methodology as, "80 percent based on objective indicators of emissions trend and emissions level. The remaining 20 percent of the index results are built upon national and international climate policy assessments by about 300 experts from the respective countries."

This year's best performing nations according to the index are France, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Cyprus, and Morocco. The United States ranked 43rd out of 58 countries, and New Zealand ranked 46th.

Australia performed poorly in last year's index too, although we have seen some slight gains in renewable energy investment and emissions cutting. However, our energy efficiency performance has slipped.

In a media statement, the Australian Conservation Foundation expressed its deep disappointment in the Federal Government. "The government spruiks its climate credentials but Australia remains a laggard on cutting climate pollution," Australian Conservation Foundation CEO Kelly O'Shanassy said.

"Australia has so much to lose from more heatwaves, droughts, and bushfires—and we have some of the best renewable energy resources in the world—so we should be a leader on this list, not bumping around near the bottom."

Australia finally ratified the Paris Agreement last week in federal parliament, but the ACF notes that it will find it difficult to meet the global agreement to limit global warming to 1.5–2°C if it doesn't make dramatic policy changes.

"Australia cannot meet its Paris commitments unless we systematically close coal fired power plants and replace them with clean renewable power," O'Shanassy said.

Meanwhile, in a long Sky News interview with Andrew Bolt, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he believed "moral panic" over climate change is "over the top".

He said he hoped the election of Donald Trump, who does not believe in climate change, would hopefully put Australia's (lack of) policy in "better perspective".

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