Today Online 11 Dec 08;
POZNAN (Poland) — Sweden does the most of any country for tackling emissions of greenhouse gases, while Saudi Arabia does the least, according to a barometer published yesterday by watchdogs at the United Nations climate talks.
But the annual Climate Change Performance Index placed Sweden only fourth on its list, for no prizes were allotted for the top three places.
“Not a single country is to be judged as satisfactory with regard to protecting the climate,” the NGOs Germanwatch and Climate Action Network Europe said. Sweden’s placing was followed by Germany, France, India, Brazil, Britain and Denmark.
The bottom 10 — in descending order — were Greece, Malaysia, Cyprus, Russia, Australia, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, the United States, Canada and Saudi Arabia.
:Singapore came in at 38th, faring worse than Indonesia (27th) and Thailand (35th), but better than Japan (43rd) and China (49th).:
:The Climate Change Performance Index compares 57 states that together emit more than 90 per cent of the world’s annual output of carbon dioxide.
The benchmark is derived from 12 national indicators, based on the emissions level, emissions trend and climate policy. AFP
Sweden cleanest, S. Arabia dirtiest: climate index
Yahoo News 10 Dec 08;
POZNAN (AFP) – Sweden does the most of any country for tackling emissions of greenhouse gases, while Saudi Arabia does the least, according to a barometer published on Wednesday by watchdogs at the UN climate talks here.
But the annual "Climate Change Performance Index" placed Sweden only fourth on its list, for no prizes were allotted for the top three places.
"Not a single country is to be judged as satisfactory with regard to protecting the climate," the NGOs Germanwatch and Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe said.
No country had shown willingness "to engage themselves more strongly" to avoid dangerous climate change, they explained.
The groups categorised dangerous climate change as an increase in temperature beyond two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels.
Sweden's fourth place was followed by Germany, France, India, Brazil, Britain and Denmark.
The bottom 10 were listed in descending order as Greece, Malaysia, Cyprus, Russia, Australia, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, the United States, Canada and Saudi Arabia.
The Climate Change Performance Index compares 57 states that together emit more than 90 percent of the world's annual output of carbon dioxide (CO2), the principal greenhouse gas.
The benchmark is derived from 12 national indicators, based on the emissions level, emissions trend and climate policy.
In last year's index, the top three places were awarded to Sweden, Germany and Iceland and the bottom three to Australia, the United States and Saudi Arabia.
The 2 C (3.6 F) warming target is embraced by the European Union (EU) as well as many green groups. Scientists are generally circumspect, saying there is no guarantee that achieving this figure will avoid inflicting bad damage to Earth's fragile climate system.
Singapore improves in climate-change index
It's now 38th, up from last year's 49th place
Shobana Kesava, Straits Times 12 Dec 08;
SINGAPORE improved on its ranking from last year but still placed 38th out of 57 economies in a climate change performance index released on Wednesday.
The barometer was published in Poznan, Poland, on the sidelines of an annual meeting held by the United Nations to find ways to mitigate climate change.
Last year, Singapore came in 49th.
Officials with the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, in Poznan for the 12-day conference that ends today, said they lacked details to assess why Singapore had not done better, despite its push to mitigate climate change.
But they felt that the island's lack of options for renewable energy, such as wind power, and the high volume of international air traffic might have contributed to its relatively low standing.
They conceded it was possible that Singapore's work in oil refining was also a factor.
The index by Germanwatch and Climate Action Network Europe compared 57 states that together emit more than 90 per cent of the world's annual output of carbon dioxide - the measure of greenhouse gases attributed to climate change.
Its benchmark is derived from 12 national indicators based on their emissions level, emission trend and climate policy.
Singapore fared worse than Indonesia (No. 27), but better than Japan (No. 43) and China (No. 49).
In descending order, Sweden, Germany and France were deemed to have done the most for climate change, while the United States, Canada and Saudi Arabia had done the least.
Due to lack of data, the index does not take into account the impact of deforestation, which wipes out the earth's most important carbon sinks. In some of the countries listed, deforestation accounts for more than 10 per cent of their total emissions.
'This may have depressed Singapore's ranking relative to countries in which deforestation and land-use changes account for a significant share of their total emissions,' said a ministry spokesman.
On the bright side, Singapore may have improved on its rankings because of the climate change strategy it unveiled in February.
The measures included a $170 million injection to facilitate research into clean energy sources such as solar power, and campaigns in the media to promote energy efficiency and reduce power usage.
A study has also been commissioned on Singapore's vulnerability to climate change.
The ministry is not hoping to improve on the country's standing in the index ahead of the crucial climate change meeting planned in Copenhagen next year, which will come up with a new international commitment for carbon emission reductions and replace the Kyoto Protocol adopted in Japan in 1997.
Instead, Singapore will continue to balance economic and environmental considerations to ensure it develops in a way which is sustainable and in the interest of Singaporeans. 'Singapore's interests and our responsibilities as a global citizen will drive policy, rather than concerns to improve rankings based on particular indices,' the spokesman said.
