Ireland has been singled out as one of only three European countries with a rating of 'very poor' in the Climate Change Performance Index, a list published today at the UN climate negotiations in Bali, Indonesia.
The index evaluates and compares the climate protection performances of 56 countries responsible for more than 90 percent of global energy-related CO2 emissions.
Placed a lowly 44th out of 56 countries in the climate change performance index compiled by two independent non-governmental organisations (NGOs) - Germanwatch and Climate Action Europe.
Ireland was also identified as one of the "big losers" or countries falling in the ranking since last year. Only two other EU countries (Cyprus and Luxembourg) performed worse than Ireland.
Countries, such as China, India, Belarus, South Africa, Bulgaria, Morocco, Turkey and Bulgaria, all perform much better and come in far higher up the index.
Sweden and Germany topped the list.
Pat Finnegan, of the Greenhouse Ireland Action Network (Grian), said: "Today's index really shows the scale of the challenge the government is facing as it takes its first hesitant steps at attempting to turn Irish performance on climate change around." "The challenge for government is to now turn this around, and fast."