Best and Worst Nations at Combating Climate Change (2014)

A new index ranks nations from best to worst on their efforts to combat climate change. The top ten on this list are comprised exclusively of European countries. It is interesting to note that some of the nations near the bottom of this list (Australia, Canada, Japan and China) are also responsible for derailing progress at the most recent COP 19 climate negotiations in Warsaw.

The list of 58 countries is called the Climate Change Performance Index [PDF], it is produced by Germanwatch and Climate Action Network Europe. The
rankings are based on countries greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, emissions-reduction efforts, energy efficiency, renewable energy portfolios, and policies aimed at slowing climate change.

Here are the top ten:

1. Denmark
2. United Kingdom
3. Portugal
4. Sweden
5. Switzerland
6. Malta
7. France
8. Hungary
9 Ireland
10. Iceland

Here are the worst ten:

49. Korea
50. Turkey
51. Estonia
52. Russia
53. China
54. Australia
55. Canada
56. Iran

57. Kazakhstan
58. Saudi Arabia

The United States was near the bottom of the list ranked at number 40 although as noted in the report the US did reduce GHG emissions by 8 percent over the last five years due to the Obama administrations progressive stance on transportation and coal.

Related Articles
Infographic: Countries Industries and Corporations Cumulative GHG Contributions
Global Levels of Greenhouse Gases Reach Record Levels
The EIA’s Emissions Analysis by US States
Report on Global Emissions Reduction
The Way Forward on US Emissions Reductions
Global Fossil Fuel Emissions Data for 2011 from the CDIAC
US Demands Emissions Reductions from China and India
World Resources Institute Warning About New Coal Plants
Canada is a World Leader in GHG Emissions
Canada’s GHG Rankings
Businesses Need to Do More to Reduce Emissions
10 Leading Wind Energy Countries
Carbon Rankings from the Environmental Investment Organization
North America 300 Carbon Ranking 2011
Global 800 Carbon Ranking 2011