By KAT CHRISOULIS

A United Nations report has ranked Australia last for its efforts on reducing emissions and tackling climate change.

The annual Sustainable Development Report, released in July, scored the nation 10 out of 100 - the lowest grade amongst 164 member countries.

The report took into account each nation's emissions from fossil fuels, imports and exports of carbon dioxide emissions, and the country's carbon pricing scores.

Climate Council Head of Research Dr Simon Bradshaw said Australia's meek international presence in the climate discourse will leave the nation politically isolated.

“Australia has a long and shameful history of holding back international climate action," Dr Bradshaw said in a statement.

Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub affiliate Dr Ben Eltham said Australians should not be surprised by the ranking.

"It's an accurate reflection of Australia's policy failure over the last decade, and really the last generation," he said.

Dr Eltham said the coal and gas industry’s influence on the current government was a major obstacle to climate action. 

"The Morrison government needs to sack itself because it's completely incapable of climate action," he said.

"There will be no policy agenda for climate action from the Morrison government of any kind, so Australia's at an impasse.”

“Until a new government can be voted in, things are just going to get worse”.

After failing to set a clear 2050 emission reduction target, Australia ranked similarly in other reports including the Climate Change Performance Index.

Bayside City councillor Fiona Stitfold, who has been dedicated to reducing local environmental degradation, said she was “ashamed” of the ranking.

"The ranking is embarrassing and I strongly believe we need to respond with a fundamental change in behaviour," she said.

In 2019, Bayside City Council voted unanimously to declare a Climate Emergency.

"We need to take urgent, meaningful action on human-induced climate change at all levels of government, including local government," Cr Stitfold said.

"There needs to be recognition that climate change is a social and political, rather than economic, issue and will require environmental cooperation," she said.

Overall, Australia ranked 35th for its holistic performance regarding the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals, endorsed by the UN in 2015, provide a framework for prosperity in diverse yet interconnected global issues. 

Alongside climate action, SDGs include ending poverty, increased access to quality education, clean water and sanitation.