British risk assessment company Maplecroft rated 166 countries on their ability to meet the challenges posed by climate change, such as drought, storms, floods and ecosystem loss.

It also looked at carbon emissions from energy use, land use and ''unsustainable energy use'' to assess the risks businesses in each country would face under a global emissions trading scheme.

Australia's high dependence on coal-fired power as an energy source resulted in it being ranked the highest per capita emitter of carbon dioxide, followed by the United States and Canada.

The study ranked China at No44 on the global energy use table, based on its historical emissions and lower per capita emissions of 4.58 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. However, according to the study, China remains the world's biggest overall greenhouse gas polluter, just ahead of the US.

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