Australia third-worst on environment

Australian
October 11, 2007

AUSTRALIA'S environmental performance is the third-worst among 21 of the world's rich nations, an independent report has found. The dismal ranking came as the head of the United Nations think tank on climate change said Australian government moves towards the Kyoto Protocol had the rest of the world poised with welcome home gestures.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change executive secretary Yvo de Boer said it was not possible to amend Kyoto. But if Australia were to ratify the agreement as it was, the international community would be “putting the yellow ribbons in the tree”. “Clearly, it's a disappointment that Australia decided it could not ratify the Kyoto Protocol and I respect that position,” Mr de Boer said. “Having said that, it makes it all the more important to listen very carefully to what Australia feels would be a post-2012 agreement that really makes sense, whatever party wins the elections.”

Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said the Government would sign an updated version of Kyoto, which expires in 2012, if an effective international agreement is reached. The Government signed Kyoto but then joined the US in refusing to ratify it, saying it placed burdens on Australia not faced by its developing-world competitors. Critics have branded Mr Turnbull's comments as pre-election posturing to win back support from voters leaning toward Labor, which vows to ratify the greenhouse blueprint.

Meanwhile, the US ranked lowest on environmental policy, with Spain one place higher and Australia and Canada tied at third-last in the 2007 Commitment to Development Index launched in London today. CDI author David Roodman said Australia's poor environmental performance was largely due to global warming issues. “Australia has the highest emissions of greenhouse gas per person,” Mr Roodman said. “Australia, like the US, has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol, which is the international community's most serious commitment to climate change. “That's where it falls down.”

Mr Roodman said he would welcome any decision by Australia to ratify Kyoto. “We would reward it in the index,” he said. “Australia right now is losing points because it has not ratified Kyoto.” The CDI, is produced annually by the Centre for Global Development, an independent Washington research and policy organisation. It ranks 21 high income industrialised countries on how well their policies and actions support poor countries' efforts to build prosperity, good government and security.

The Netherlands topped the overall index on the strength of its aid-giving, falling greenhouse gas emissions and support for investment in developing countries. Other big aid donors Denmark, Sweden and Norway followed, with Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Finland tied for fifth and Japan last. The report said Australia's score was driven by its leading role in peacekeeping efforts, low trade barriers against exports from developing countries and relatively open migration policies. On the negative side, Australia gives only a small share of its income in foreign aid.