Australia ranked last for climate policies behind the likes of Saudi Arabia, Russia and Brazil

Australia’s climate policies have been ranked last out of 64 countries and the nation is among the worst offenders for emissions, renewables and energy use.

The country slipped four spots to 58th overall place in the latest Climate Change Performance Index unveiled at the COP26 summit in Glasgow.

Australia ranked last among 64 countries behind the likes of Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Brazil in terms of climate policy.

The country’s highest ranking was 52 for renewables, followed by a score of 54 for energy use and 56 for greenhouse gas emissions.

The index criticised Australia for bringing to Glasgow a 2050 target of net zero emissions that involved no new policies or plans.

Its ‘technology investment roadmap’ was deemed insufficient to decarbonise the economy, cut fossil fuel use and promote renewables.

The country’s highest ranking was 52 for renewables, followed by a score of 54 for energy use and 56 for greenhouse gas emissions (Pictured: Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the UN climate summit) 

‘This failure to promote renewables … is exacerbated by inadequate infrastructure investment despite subsidies for fossil fuel production and promotion of a ‘gas-led’ economic recovery following COVID-19,’ the ranking said.

‘The country’s international standing has been damaged by climate denialism by politicians, refusal to increase ambition and refusal to recommit to international green finance mechanisms.’

The annual ranking designed by German environmentalists has compared the performance of countries responsible for 90 per cent of global emissions since 2005 across four key categories.

The index criticised Australia for bringing to Glasgow a 2050 target of net zero emissions that involved no new policies or plans (Pictured: Extinction Rebellion protestors burn the national flag in front of Parliament House in Melbourne, calling for climate action)

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has emphasised Australia’s ‘technology not taxes’ approach to climate change led by private investment over government leavers.

The latest policy is a $250million ‘future fuels’ plan aimed at getting up to 1.7 million electric and hybrid vehicles on Australian roads by 2030.

‘It’s the private sector that now is responding to consumers, they’re responding to what people want,’ Mr Morrison said.

‘Governments don’t have to step in and tell everybody what to do anymore when it comes to this, if they ever did.’

The plan was criticised by the electric vehicle industry for leaving out tax incentives or fuel efficiency standards.