Australia Named Worlds Biggest Polluter

A new study tracking global carbon dioxide emissions and power plant activity has named Australia the world's worst polluter per capita.

The study, by US think tank the Center for Global Development and published on Carbon Monitoring for Action's (Carma's) new website, has found the US to be the world's largest producer of carbon emissions, producing 8.2t of carbon a year.

Australian power stations are the least efficient on a per capita basis, with emissions of ten tonnes a year.

The study also found that China's power sector emits the second-highest total amount of carbon dioxide every year.

The study comes as the government of Western Australia (WA) takes steps to move towards creating a nuclear-free environment with its parliament passing laws to block the building of nuclear plants in the state.

The bill, which must also be approved by the upper house of parliament, would mean anyone trying to build or operate a nuclear plant would face fines of up to $500,000, writes theage.com.

By staff writer