Australia has ranked very low in an analysis of OECD countries’ climate action efforts. 

Energy analyst Dr Hugh Saddler has ranked the performance of 23 OECD countries and Russia on eight climate measures.

Australia ranked 20th or worse in seven of the eight categories, having not improved in relative terms on any category since 2005. The nation actually went backwards compared to other developed countries in four.

Australia’s energy sector now makes up a larger portion of its carbon footprint than it did in 2005. Sixteen years ago, energy combustion emissions accounted for 58 per cent of national emissions, however in 2019 it accounted for nearly three quarters (72 per cent), with Australia being one of three of the 23 countries to have increased its total energy combustion emissions between 2005 and 2019.

The research was conducted for the progressive thinktank the Australia Institute, and showed Australia “lagging at the back of the pack”.

“Despite the last decade of growth in solar and wind energy, fossil fuels still dominate Australia’s energy sector and its rate of electrification, that is getting off coal, oil and gas for energy, is one of the worst in the OECD,” Dr Saddler said.

“Over the last 15 years, Australia has squandered its golden opportunity to decouple its energy sector from fossil fuels, unlike so many other OECD countries. 

“As a result Australians are left with high-polluting and inefficient power, heating, housing and transport. This also drives up our cost of living and drives down our energy productivity.

“Beyond the comparison with other countries, this report demonstrates that Australia’s so-called ‘gas-fired economic recovery’ runs absolutely counter to the needs of Australia’s energy system transition, and will only serve to make Australia’s emissions reduction performance even worse.”