Australians still among worst polluters on planet
16 Jul 2008
Australia's climate change credentials rank poorly against other developed countries with Australians still among the highest greenhouse gas polluters per capita on the planet.
The report released today by independent consultancy Ecofys, commissioned by leading environmental organisation WWF and international financial services leader, Allianz, contains climate change scorecards for the world's leading economies. The report ranks each country's performance on a range of emissions-related criteria such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, and the development of carbon markets.
"Australia's overall poor result is embarrassing, and highlights the Government has some tough decisions ahead of it if it wants to raise Australia's overall climate change performance," said WWFAustralia CEO Greg Bourne.
"It is crucial that Australia forges ahead with a comprehensive emissions trading scheme, which begins in 2010, includes petrol and refrains from giving away free permits.
"As a wealthy high emitting nation, Australia should be joining Europe and leading the charge on actions to reduce emissions not waiting to see what poorer countries do."
Terry Towell, Managing Director of Allianz Australia, said the insurance industry has already started adapting to the effects of climate change on extreme weather events.
"For insurers, the effects of climate change have been apparent for some time - 85% of the largest 40 natural catastrophes occurred between 1988 and 2006. Moreover, average insured losses have increased tenfold from an average of around $US3 billion per annum in the early 1970s to an average of around $US30 billion per annum since 2000.
"Allianz research estimates that global insured damage from such events will rise further to an average of $US41 billion per annum over the period 2010-19.
"There is an urgent need for a new global agreement to establish a framework of international emissions reductions post the current Kyoto targets if we are to stop these trends worsening."
The international community has 10 to 15 years in which global emissions have to peak and decline, and a binding global emissions reduction pact is urgently required to replace the Kyoto Protocol when it expires in 2012.
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For more information
Charlie Stevens, WWF Press Office,
02 8202 1242, 0407 204 594
Nicholas Scofield, Allianz Australia,
02 9390 6596, 0416 088 414
