The recently compiled 'Carbon Polluters Index', has listed the top 183 countries that emit greenhouse gases. The list was compiled by Maplecroft, a British consultancy company.
The list was compiled as a guideline for investors about nations that will be vulnerable once the UN climate change talks agree on penalties on carbon emissions.
The United Arab Emirate takes the top spot due to rising emissions from desalination plants. Operating water desalination plants is a way to address water shortage but also produces high carbon emissions.
Maplecroft said that the results mean that the UAE need to find better technology that is more energy efficient to produce clean water. Fossil fuels run the desalination plants.
Australia’s dependence on coal put the land down under just second ahead of the U.S. The U.S. has been the biggest cumulative carbon emitter since 1900 and now number 2 national emitter behind China. America and Australia have high per capita greenhouse gas emissions.
Others in the top 10 list are Canada, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, Kazakhstan and Belgium. African nations have the lowest ranking with the least carbon emissions.
Nations and the UN are striving to move toward low carbon emission economies and are creating strict environmental policies that will lead to costly operating expenses.
