A new international study has rated Ireland thirty-third out of 56 countries in terms of government efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The results of the international Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) by the German non-governmental organisation Germanwatch were revealed at the United Nations World Climate Conference in the Kenyan capital Nairobi today.
The CCPI, which was produced by over 50 other NGOs, including Irish group Grian, compares the efforts of major emissions-producing countries in terms of their Government's action against climate change. The 56 countries surveyed produce 90 per cent of all global carbon dioxide emissions.
The top ranking country is Sweden, followed by the United Kingdom, Denmark, Malta and Germany.
Ireland is ranked one place below Turkey. Despite its poor score, Ireland is not the worst-performing EU country. Croatia, Spain, Finland, Austria, Greece, Cyprus and Luxembourg all fare worse.
The worst country is Saudi Arabia. The US and China come in 53 rdand 54 th, just below Kazakhstan.
In the equivalent CPPI survey last year, Ireland came in 39th position.
Pat Finnegan of Grian today said Ireland's ranking was disappointing. "The contrast between this position and Ireland's exalted rank as third wealthiest country in the world - according to another UN report released last week - could not be starker," said Mr Finnegan, who is attending the Nairobi conference.
"This disconnect is a direct and explicit breach of one of the fundamental provisions in the UN climate convention which requires wealthy countries to take the lead in combating climate change."
The CPPI uses three categories for compiling a country's score. First, it rates the per-capita emission trend of the previous years. These are measured in four economic sectors, namely energy, transport, residential and industrial.
Second, it measures all energy-related CO2 emissions of a country, taking into account its particular economic situation. Finally, the index evaluates the national as well as the international climate policies of a country.
Ireland was rated poorly in these categories. However, the index acknowledged the success of Government measures to increase renewable electricity and for using an increasing amount of wind energy on the national grid.
Representatives of some 190 countries are attending the conference in Nairobi. Minister for the Environment Dick Roche is due in Kenya tomorrow.
Meanwhile, it is expected outgoing UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will announce a two-year plan to help Africa respond to global warming when he speaks to the conference tonight.
Many scientists say that Africa is on the frontlines of climate change because most people are poor and vulnerable to disrupted weather patterns such as more frequent droughts.
In addition to promoting adaptation projects, the joint UN and World Bank plan aims to help Africa develop in a climate-friendly way by boosting clean energy such as renewable energy sources.
