The Climate Action Network’s highly popular “Fossil of the Day” Awards kicked into action on Tuesday morning. Used as a means to name and shame Parties that behave in an irresponsible manner during the negotiations, the awards are closely followed by both Parties and other participants at the climate COPs.

On Tuesday, Australia was awarded first place for comparing its vulnerability to climate change to that of Africa and the Pacific countries during Monday’s SBSTA Plenary.

Voted into second place was Saudi Arabia for wanting equal treatment for response measures under the Adaptation Fund. The Adaptation Fund must focus on giving money to the most vulnerable countries.

Not content to let anyone else share the glory, Australia and Saudi Arabia shared joint third place for insisting on limiting the time for negotiations to 6pm and, thereby, the ability to work. However that did not stop Australia, at the same time, from making a long intervention although it was well past 6pm.

Canada won first place on Wednesday for misrepresenting its commitments, at Tuesday’s Ad Hoc Working Group meeting, to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 45 to 65 per cent by 2050. The problem? It did not state these reductions were based on a 2003 base year and not 1990. It should be noted that between 1990 and 2003, GHG emissions in Canada increased by 24 per cent.

Always competitive, Australia outshone other Parties to take second place. On Tuesday’s SBI Plenary, it stated consideration should be given to small island developing states and agreed with the need to increase funding for adaptation. However, it mentioned this should not compromise funding for carbon dioxide capture and storage.

Newcomer Kuwait joined Saudi Arabia to share joint third place. Both suggested, in SBSTA on Tuesday, to delete the item on emissions from fuel used for international aviation and maritime transport.