Uruguay now generating 95 per cent of its electric from clean energy

Oil is replaced by wind turbines as the country's biggest import

On some days, Germany now gets up to 85 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources

Uruguay has slashed its carbon footprint by providing 94.5% of its electricity from clean sources.

According to the country's national director of energy, Ramón Méndez, the shift to clean energy has been achieved without government subsidies or higher consumer costs.

Mr Méndez told the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris that 27% of the country's imports were oil 15 years ago. Now, he said. the biggest import is wind turbines.

The increase in clean energy means renewable energy now makes up 55% of the country's overall energy mix, which is over four-and-a-half times the global average of 12%.

The move follows Uruguay's groundbreaking legalisation of marijuana and liberal policies on abortion and same-sex marriage.

During the Paris summit, US President Barack Obama was among the leaders pushing for a change in global policy on climate change, vowing America would commit to reducing greenhouse gases by up to 28% in the next 10 years.