A new global scorecard which looks at how countries integrate air quality considerations into their national climate plans has given Australia a dismal score of two out of 15 points.
The Clean Air NDC Scorecard, compiled by the Global Climate and Health Alliance reveals that the world’s largest economies - the G20 countries - still fall short when it comes to integrating clean air and climate action.
The scorecard shows the world’s biggest carbon-emitting economies are failing to integrate air quality into national climate plans, while countries suffering the worst impacts of air pollution like Colombia and Mali are taking the most action.
Countries on 10 points, well ahead of Australia, include Nigeria and Pakistan while Cambodia, El Salvador and Sierra Leone are on nine points.
Climate and Health Alliance air pollution policy specialist for Australia, Clare Walter, is not surprised by the result.
“It is unsurprising Australia is failing to make the link between climate and the health impacts of air pollution,” Walter said.
"The 2019/2020 bushfires provided many Australians with a tangible experience of air pollution impacts, raising public awareness for policy makers.
"Unfortunately, this hasn’t translated to other sources of air pollution such as energy production and transport.”
The scorecard examined how countries integrate air quality considerations into their national climate plans to deliver the Paris Agreement and determines if countries recognise the health impacts of air pollution, or if they prioritise action to improve air quality.
Some of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters like India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Australia had little or no mention of air pollution in their climate plans.
Globally, seven million premature deaths occur every year due to air pollution.
Among the G20 countries, Canada and China lead the way in integrating air quality in their national climate plans.
The lowest scorers are Australia, Brazil, the European Union, and India, as well as the United Arab Emirates. Indonesia and Saudi Arabia with one and zero points respectively.
Global Climate and Health Alliance lead, Jess Beagley, said the Clean Air NDC Scorecard confirms the human cost of delaying the inevitable phase-out of fossil fuels.
“It is also telling that the countries seeking to take the greatest action on air pollution are often those bearing the brunt of the impacts,” she said.
“Responding to the scorecard isn’t merely about trying to improve a country's ranking, it’s about how we seize upon the opportunity to deliver a future where the health impact of burning fossil fuels no longer exists.
“Not only are fossil fuels the leading driver of climate change, they also cause millions of deaths from air pollution every year.”
View the Clean Air NDC Scorecard: https://climateandhealthalliance.org/initiatives/clean-air-ndc-scorecard/
