English
Deutsch Emerging economy front runner in climate policy for the first time
Global Climate Risk Index 2010
“It’s great to see emerging economies like Brazil moving up the rankings, sending a clear signal during these negotiations that they are more and more committed to combating climate change,” said Matthias Duwe, Director of CAN Europe. “I only wish more EU countries were showing the same commitment to positive change.”
Author of the study Jan Burck from Germanwatch explained, “Because the CCPI represents a relative ranking, countries are ranked against one another as well as against the criteria of keeping temperature rise below the dangerous level of two degrees. Therefore, since no country is thus far adequately on the path toward halting dangerous climate change, the three top spots are empty once again this year”.
This year’s bottom-of-the-barrel finishers were Canada and Saudi Arabia. Because Canada’s government delayed the announcement of any major new climate policies, it remained in second-to-last place for the second year in a row.
On the other hand, Brazil and the United Kingdom ranked high in this year’s index after passing progressive domestic climate legislation. At the same time, while the US took a small step up the ladder, it remains in low position. Christoph Bals, Policy Director from Germanwatch, commented, “There are a number of climate policy proposals going through US congress at the moment but nothing yet on the books. A bill which really reduces emissions and a strong performance in Copenhagen would improve their ranking.”
