COPENHAGEN, Denmark - December 14 - As the UN climate talks in Copenhagen enter their second week, NGOs from around the world voted to present their mock "Fossil of the Day Award"--given to the country or countries doing the most to obstruct progress in the global climate talks--to the USA.

"The USA's failure to commit to long-term financing is foot-dragging that could foil the talks," said presenter Ben Wikler of Avaaz.org. "America also has among the weakest emissions targets of any major developed country. Just when the world needs the US to lead, the fossil fuel lobby and its allies in the Senate are holding the US right where it's been stuck for years--at the back of the pack," he added.

The Fossil of the Day Awards are chosen by a daily vote of the Climate Action Network-International, a global coalition of over 450 non-governmental organisations, and presented daily at 6pm at an award ceremony hosted by Ben Wikler of Avaaz.org. For more information, and past winners: www.fossiloftheday.com.

Second-place Fossil went to the EU for failing to address a gaping loophole that undermines its targets: hot air and forest management. Canada and Saudi Arabia came joint third for their woeful performance in the Climate Change Index figures released today by Germanwatch and Climate Action Network Europe.

In a satirical game-show style ceremony, tuxedo-clad Ben Wikler of Avaaz.org said:

FIRST PLACE: UNITED STATES of AMERICA The USA wins its first Fossil of the COP for two reasons: first, for making absolutely no commitment on long-term financing for developing countries, a failure that could sink the talks. Second, because the US--far and away the biggest cumulative emitter of global warming pollution in world history--has among the weakest emissions targets of any major developed country, a laughable 4% below 1990 levels by 2020--despite the growing chorus of calls for 40+% cuts from rich countries. Do US negotiators represent the US fossil fuel lobby? Or will they bring the US into the community of nations, rich and poor alike, rising to the biggest challenge humanity has ever faced? US, all eyes on you: is it Hopenhagen or Brokenhagen?

SECOND PLACE: EUROPEAN UNION The EU wins second-place Fossil dishonors for failing to address a gaping loophole that undermines its targets: hot air and forest management. Allowing full carry-over past 2012 of Europe's hot air--that is, targets based on 1990 levels that in fact allow huge increases in emissions--could allow 11 gigatonnes of carbon emissions. Europe's flagging credibility as a climate leader could crumble completely if this hot air loophole is not closed -- and all of the EU member states are responsible.

THIRD PLACE: CANADA and SAUDI ARABIA Saudi Arabia and Canada receive the third place fossil of the day for their respective last and second-last finish in the Climate Change Performance Index released today by Germanwatch and Climate Action Network Europe. The Index evaluates 57 industrial and developing countries who release 90% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.

Saudi Arabia's record speaks for itself. Canada only finished second-last because Saudi Arabia received a zero rating for its climate policy! Canada is in the world's top ten emitters, has one of the world's highest per capita rates of emissions at 23 tonnes per person, and is 34% above its Kyoto target (which is just a modest 6% cut from 1990). Simply put: on climate change, Canada has performance issues.