Canada Worst Climate Performer Amongst Top 10 Greenhouse Gas Emitters: Canada ranked 56th out of 57 countries evaluated, ahead of only Saudi Arabia

“Canada is punching far below its weight when it comes to taking action to stop dangerous levels of global warming,” said Keith Stewart, director of WWF-Canada’s climate change program and one of the Canadian experts consulted in the preparation of this year’s Climate Change Performance Index. “Canada is blessed with the ecological, intellectual and financial resources required to build the clean energy economy of the future, so let’s get on with the job.”

While no country is taking action consistent with keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, the top spots in this year’s ranking were taken by Brazil, Sweden, the UK and Germany. Canada’s NAFTA-partner Mexico came in 8th place, while the US moved up from 55th to 50th place based on actions taken by the Obama administration.

The report included a chapter comparing top climate performer Brazil with Canada. It concluded that “Canada’s current government still has not recognised the basic necessity to take climate policy seriously – domestically and on an international level.”

The Climate Change Performance Index, which is published annually by Germanwatch and Climate Action Network Europe, compares the climate protection performance of 57 industrialised countries and emerging economies. Together they account for more than 90 per cent of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.

– 30 –

For more information:

In Copenhagen:
Gerald Butts,
President and CEO, WWF-Canada
Tel. 416-508-3456
[email protected]

In Canada:
Keith Stewart
Climate Change Program Director, WWF-Canada
Tel. 647-328-5518
[email protected]

About WWF-Canada
WWF was established in 1961 and operates in more than 100 countries, with over five million supporters worldwide. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature by conserving the world’s biological diversity; ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable; and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. WWF-Canada’s top priorities are fighting climate change, the single biggest environmental threat to our planet; and conserving our oceans and freshwater resources. For more information, visit wwf.ca.