Australia has once again featured in the top 10 highest polluting countries after the WWF released its 2012 Living Planet Report, showing that Australia’s carbon emissions are the top contributors to securing the dubious honour.

 

The biennial report, which measures the impact of human demands on nature, found that humans are using 50 per cent more resources than the Earth can provide for, and that we will need two planets by 2030 if the current rate of consumption continues unabated.

 

The WWF has urged Australia to stay the course with its current legislative progress in implementing a tax before rolling out a full emissions trading scheme in 2015.

 

"Australia has some of the world's best renewable energy resources and know-how to be able to significantly reduce our carbon footprint. The Carbon Price and Renewable Energy Target are key mechanisms that together will drive the shift from coal to renewables,” said WWF Australia’s Climate Change Manager Kellie Caught.

 

“Just like the industrial revolution brought benefits to society, the carbon price will drive a new clean revolution that will have health and economic benefits but critically give our precious environment a fighting chance.”

 

Topping the list of the most polluting countries was Qatar, followed by Kuwait, the UAE and, surprisingly, Denmark.

 

The full report can be found here