Canada last among G8 on climate change action: report

Canada has been ranked last among the G8 nationsin an annual climate change report funded by the World Wildlife Fund and the insurance firm Allianz SE.

"Nowhere else on Earth do fewer people steward more resources, yet Canada now stands dead last amongst the G8 nations in protecting our shared home from the threat of dangerous climate change," said Keith Steward, director of WWF-Canada's climate change campaign, in a statement Wednesday.

Canada's greenhouse gas emissions are steadily increasing, and its per capita emissions are already among the highest in the world, says the study, conducted by Ecofys, a renewable-energy consulting firm.

"A plan to curb emissions was developed last year but has not been implemented," the report says.

The report looked at the G8 nations as well as five major developing countries (Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa),focusing on:

• The change in their greenhouse gas emissions since 1990.
• How far they are from their targets under the Kyoto protocol, an international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Their use of renewable energy sources as a share of their energy use.
• Their energy policies.

Last year, Canada placed seventh. This year, it traded places with the U.S., which moved up a spot thanks to climate initiatives announced by the Obama administration.

Germany, the United Kingdom and France topped the list, partly because they have already achieved their Kyoto targets.