Australia ranked 56th of 58 nations in climate change performance index

Australia has finished ahead of only Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan among 58 countries listed in a Climate Change Performance Index released at the Paris climate summit.

The index measures emission levels per capita, the trend in emissions projections, the use of renewable energy and climate change policies of each of the 58 countries.

Denmark finished on top of the rankings, followed by Britain, Sweden, Belgium and France. But because the judges felt "no country is doing enough to prevent dangerous climate change", there was no award for first to third places.

Australia's ranking was a slight improvement on last year's position when it finished 60th.

The summit was the last chance for 195 countries to agree on a strategy since members agreed in 1992 to stabilize greenhouse gases and work out a method to limit emissions, while allowing countries to continue to grow in health - especially developing nations.

Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had said on the day before the summit Australia was meeting and exceeding its climate targets and transforming its energy production.

But the Australian Conservation Foundation, which acted as one of the "expert advisers" for the review, disagreed with Bishop's assessment.

Chief Executive Kelly O'Shannassy said the study showed up the difference between what Australia was saying at the Paris conference and what it was doing.

"This report cuts through the government's spin to show that we are a climate laggard," O'Shannassy said on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Wednesday.

Australia's high per capita emissions meant it scored poorly in measuring emissions levels. It scored better in a second category which assessed projected future emissions across a number of sectors.

It also scored low on renewable energy deployment where other countries are moving faster on both national and international climate policy. Enditem