The Gunner Government has failed to meet climate action targets, according to a scorecard released by Northern Territory-based environmental groups who have accused the government of not “taking their commitments seriously” and turning the issue into an “international embarrassment”.

The grading scorecard is based on the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an international body set up to provide lawmakers with regular scientific advice on climate change.

The NT Government’s climate performance only scored five out of 100 for 2020-2021, indicating a “fail” result.

According to IPCC recommendations for keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees, the only progress made by the NT Government has been identifying an emissions reduction target and publishing climate information on its website.

“A lack of legislated, interim emission reduction targets and continued support for the fossil fuel industry contributed to the government’s low score,” Climate Action Darwin and the Environment Centre NT said in a joint statement.

They said the score is based on publicly available information.

The groups said they invited the NT Government to have input on the scorecard, but they received no response.

Charlie Ward of Climate Action Darwin said the Gunner Government is missing in action when it comes to “what the best science says we need to do on climate change”.

“Instead of reducing our emissions, the NTG is on track to give the NT the highest per capita emissions in the world,” Mr Ward said.

“While talking up a few solar panels, behind the scenes the NTG is doing all in its power to prop up the dying fossil fuel industry.

“Michael Gunner bending over backwards for the gas industry and Scott Morrison as the climate crisis intensifies is deeply alarming and an international embarrassment,” Mr Ward added.

He urged the Gunner Government to radically lift its game and “recognise we are in a climate emergency and act accordingly – now.”

“We have initiated this scorecard to cut through the greenwash and hold the Gunner Government to account on climate change,” he said.

Shar Molloy, co-director of the Environment Centre NT meanwhile accused the NT Government of not taking their commitments seriously, saying that Territorians are already being hurtled towards climate catastrophe, extreme weather events, and hotter temperatures.

“Here in the Territory, we have an abundance of solar resources that we could be harnessing, yet the NTG seem intent on following the gas industry down the garden path,” Ms Molloy said.

“We want long-term, sustainable jobs, not support for a dying industry,” she added.

A detailed breakdown of the scorecard can be found here: https://www.ecnt.org.au/scorecard