An international environmental NGO has given Japan a satirical "Fossil of the Day" award at the venue of the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai.

The Climate Action Network presents the awards every day during the UN conference to countries it says are "doing the most to achieve the least" to curb global warming.

The group said on Sunday that it had chosen Japan, New Zealand and the United States as the first recipients at this year's meeting.

The group referred to Japan's efforts to partially replace fossil fuels with ammonia and other materials to reduce emissions from thermal power plants.

It criticized Japan saying the country's push to extend the life of fossil fuel-based energy is delaying the transition to renewables, not only domestically but also throughout Asia.

Osada Hiroki, a member of a Japanese environmental NGO, mockingly received the award.

Osada said the world needs to do away with fossil fuels as soon as possible as the effects of climate change are emerging across the globe. He said Japan has not been able to do so and needs to take specific measures.

Japan received the award for the fourth time in a row. A Japanese government official declined to comment on the activities of a private organization.

The official said Japan will deliver the message that it will no longer build coal-fired thermal power plants that lack measures to reduce carbon emissions.