Australian power firms 'doing little to prepare for low-carbon future'

A number of Australian power firms are taking next to no action to prepare for a low-carbon future, it has been claimed.

Environmental group WWF-Australia awarded half of the 19 power firms less than two stars out of a possible five for their efforts to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality.

The body claimed the worst offenders were global power generation firm Intergen, multinational mining company Rio Tinto and aluminium producer Alcoa, with all three businesses receiving no stars.

Paul Toni, development and climate change programme leader for the body, said: "These companies and the other companies who have got just one star really are facing extinction unless they make dramatic cuts in their emissions."

He added that large companies with access to significant capital should use these funds in renewable energy and clean coal to reduce carbon emissions.

Last month, WWF welcomed the initiative taken by a number of countries to reduce climate change following the end of UN talks in Accra, Ghana.