The Most Sustainable Countries in the World
🌎 The world is full of beautiful places, each with their own unique culture and way of life. But what makes a country truly sustainable?
The Environmental Performance Index is a measurement of how effective each nation’s environmental policies are. When examining each nation, we look at them based on 24 different variables. Sanitation, the quality of the air we breathe, and the availability of clean water are some of the indications.
There are many factors that contribute to a country’s sustainability, including its economy, environment, and social stability. A sustainable country is one that can maintain its current way of life without compromising the future of its people or the planet.
So, which countries are the most sustainable in the world?
Most Sustainable Countries in the World
One of the best things we can do for the planet is to live more sustainably. And, luckily, there are some countries that are leading the way when it comes to sustainability. Here are the most sustainable countries in the world and why they’re so eco-friendly:
Norway
Norway is a world leader in sustainable living, and it’s no wonder why – the country is absolutely gorgeous, and its citizens are some of the happiest on the planet.
Norway has a long history of environmentalism, and it was one of the first countries to ratify the Paris Climate Agreement. The country is also a pioneer in electric vehicles, with over half of all new cars sold in Norway being electric.
In recent years, Norway’s electricity production has transitioned to become almost entirely renewable sources. The government has set a goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by thirty percent by the end of this year.
What’s more, Norway is powered by nearly 100% renewable energy, thanks to its abundance of hydroelectric dams. And, in an effort to further reduce its carbon footprint, the country has pledged to be completely carbon-neutral by 2030.
Switzerland
Switzerland is another European country that’s leading the way when it comes to sustainability.
Since the beginning of the EPI ranking system, Switzerland has maintained a position within the top five most ecologically friendly countries year after year. It’s one of the few countries in the world that doesn’t have any sort of garbage dump. Instead, all waste is burned, which releases just a small quantity of pollution into the air.
Like Norway, Switzerland has a strong commitment to renewable energy, with over half of the country’s electricity coming from hydroelectric dams. The country also has ambitious plans to increase its use of renewable energy even further, with a goal of getting 60% of its electricity from renewables by 2035.
In addition to its renewable energy efforts, Switzerland is also working to reduce its reliance on cars. The country has an excellent public transportation system, and it’s investing heavily in electric vehicles. In fact, Switzerland has the highest number of electric vehicles per capita in the world.
Iceland
Iceland is a small country with a big commitment to sustainability.
Like Norway and Switzerland, Iceland gets the majority of its electricity from hydroelectric dams. In fact, nearly 85% of the country’s electricity comes from renewable sources.
What’s more, Iceland is one of the world’s leaders in geothermal energy, and it’s working to make geothermal energy even more sustainable. The country has also pledged to be completely carbon-neutral by 2040.
Sweden
Sweden is another European country that’s at the forefront of sustainability.
The country has a long history of environmentalism, and it was one of the first countries to sign the Paris Climate Agreement. Sweden is also powered by nearly 100% renewable energy, thanks to its large hydroelectric and nuclear power plants.
What’s more, Sweden is working to reduce its reliance on cars, with a goal of getting 30% of all trips to be made by public transportation, cycling, or walking by 2030. The country is also investing heavily in electric vehicles, with a goal of having 1 million electric vehicles on the roads by 2030.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a small country with a big commitment to the environment.
The country has an ambitious goal of becoming completely carbon-neutral by 2021. To achieve this, Costa Rica is investing heavily in renewable energy, with a goal of getting 100% of its electricity from renewables by 2021.
In addition to its renewable energy efforts, Costa Rica is also working to reduce its reliance on cars. The country has an excellent public transportation system, and it’s investing heavily in electric vehicles.
So, there you have it – the most sustainable countries in the world. These countries are leading the way when it comes to sustainability, and they’re setting an excellent example for the rest of the world to follow.
Luxembourg
They scored 82.3 out of 100 on the EPI. Compared to the previous year, this nation has established as one of its priorities for the coming year the reduction of CO2 emissions by one million tonnes.
The decrease in the sale of gasoline is part of Luxembourg’s strategy to achieve this goal. At the turn of the new millennium, this nation had CO2 emissions that were among the highest in the world; in fact, they were higher than those of the United States. As of the year 2020, they are currently ranked in the top 10 countries with the lowest CO2 growth rate.
France
It should come as no surprise that the nation that was responsible for drafting the Paris Climate Agreement is also one of the most environmentally conscious countries in the world.
The French government has passed a rule requiring that the roofs of all newly constructed commercial buildings in France be partially covered with plants or solar panels. Paris, the nation’s capital and largest city, is working on a plan to increase the number of bike lanes in the city by 50 percent and make France a more bike-friendly nation.
Malta
Malta is an unsung hero of environmental protection. With an EPI of 80.90, Malta is ranked #4 globally for environmental performance in 2018. They have a 93.80 on environmental health and a 72.30 on ecosystem vitality.
A high Environmental Performance Index ranking for Malta in 2018 may be attributable to the country’s well-intentioned efforts to promote sustainability and green lifestyles.
The availability of green energy sources in Malta is limited; nonetheless, the country is making efforts to transition to more sustainable energy sources. Incentives are being offered to residents of Malta who switch from oil to natural gas in their homes’ electrical generation.
Building modern infrastructures and sophisticated transport systems, Malta is striving to replace gas guzzlers and reduce traffic congestion, both of which contribute to air pollution.
Canada
In an effort to become a more environmentally responsible nation, Canada has set a goal to cut its emissions of greenhouse gasses by thirty percent by the year 2030.
The Canadian government is devoted to exploring environmentally friendly ways of living and energy solutions, in addition to sustainable practices for the environment.
As a result of efforts to reduce poverty and advance gender equality, the nation is making steady progress toward achieving greater social sustainability.
New Zealand
The law to achieve total net zero by the year 2050 has been approved by the New Zealand parliament. The nation’s agricultural sector is widely recognised as one of the most environmentally friendly in the world.
The people of New Zealand are dedicated to living in a sustainable manner, and the vast majority of consumers will only purchase things that are environmentally friendly.
The public transportation network in New Zealand has been improved in recent years in an effort to cut down on the number of people who travel by automobile.
Conclusion: Environment Performance Index
The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is a statistical tool for calculating the cumulative environmental impact of a country’s policies as a whole. It is compiled annually by the Center for Environmental Law & Policy at Yale University.
The 2020 Environmental Performance Index assesses 180 nations based on 32 environmental health and ecosystem vitality performance parameters, such as air and water pollution levels, fish stock abundance, and wetland management.
The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) provides a benchmark for governments to build environmentally sound policies from. The Environmental Performance Index is a useful tool for gauging a nation’s progress toward its environmental policy objectives.
