The Netherlands is second from bottom of a new ranking looking at how EU countries are gearing up to tackle climate change, Trouw reports.

The Netherlands is in 42^nd place out of 58 on the overall ranking, below countries such as Belarus and Algeria, Trouw says. But in terms of Europe, the Netherlands is sandwiched between Bulgaria and Estonia at the bottom, the Climate Change Performance Index shows.

The ranking is compiled by an organisation named Germanwatch, together with the Climate Action Network. The list is topped by Denmark.

The aim is to put pressure on countries which do not do enough to protect the climate and is based on carbon dioxide emissions, the development of sustainable energy and climate policy, Trouw says.

The Netherlands was in 15^th place in the first index which was published in 2006 but has slid down the rankings since then. The 58 countries analysed are responsible for 90% of the energy-related CO2 emissions.

In October, a damning report said the Dutch government’s aim to ensure 14% of Dutch energy is produced using sustainable methods by 2020 will be impossible to achieve.

Green energy currently accounts for around 5% of Dutch energy supplies.