Opponents of any action on climate change often point to the statistic that Australia represents less than 2% of the annual global carbon emission total. Their conclusion is that any action on reducing Australia's emissions will be ineffective in reducing the global total. Whilst the claim that Australia's share of global emissions is less than 2% is correct, a report prepared by the US Department of Energy shows that many other major countries are also accountable for less than 2% of the global total. The report highlighted that countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa and Italy are all responsible for emissions that are less than 2% of the global total. In fact Australia is recognised as the 15th highest total carbon emitter from 214 countries around the world and has an annual emission total larger than more populated countries such as France, Brazil, Spain and Ukraine.
Opponents of any action on climate change often point to the statistic that Australia represents less than 2% of the annual global carbon emission total. Their conclusion is that any action on reducing Australia's emissions will be ineffective in reducing the global total. Whilst the claim that Australia's share of global emissions is less than 2% is correct, a report prepared by the US Department of Energy shows that many other major countries are also accountable for less than 2% of the global total. The report highlighted that countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa and Italy are all responsible for emissions that are less than 2% of the global total. In fact Australia is recognised as the 15th highest total carbon emitter from 214 countries around the world and has an annual emission total larger than more populated countries such as France, Brazil, Spain and Ukraine.