23rd July, 2024
Iceland boasts an impressive Environmental Performance Index (EPI) score of 93.5, reflecting its commitment to environmental health and sustainability. With a GDP per capita of $36,000 and a population of 311,000, Iceland stands out for its exceptional air quality.
Switzerland has an excellent environmental performance, scoring 89.1 on the EPI. It excels in forestry, water quality, and biodiversity, all of which receive perfect scores of 100. Switzerland upholds strict environmental regulations despite scoring lower than other industrialized nations in air pollution (impact on the ecosystem).
Despite having a population of 4.5 million and a GDP per capita of $9,600, Costa Rica ranks third in the world with an EPI score of 86.4. This accomplishment is a testament to the nation’s enormous natural resources, which include a wide variety of species, thick forests, and water.
This country boasts the best air and living state with the EPI 86. Renowned for its commitment to sustainability, Sweden stands out as one of the world’s leading countries in terms of low carbon dioxide emissions and the utilisation of renewable energy.
Mauritius, a small island nation in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar, boasts the highest EPI score of 80.6 in Sub-Saharan Africa, with Djibouti following at 60.5. With a GDP per capita of $10,000 and a population of 1.3 million, its isolation helps maintain low pollution levels, attracting tourists to its pristine marine areas.
With an impressive EPI score of 77.9, Denmark ranks as the cleanest and most eco-friendly country according to the 2022 EPI Results. The nation excels in various categories, earning perfect scores in wastewater treatment, marine protected areas, and heavy metal management.
Norway is a remarkably wealthy country, with an EPI score of 81.1, supported by large offshore natural gas and oil deposits. With a population of 4.7 million, this wealth translates into a high GDP per capita of $48,000.
Despite experiencing fast population and GDP expansion, Luxembourg has achieved tremendous progress in mitigating the negative affects on the environment. Luxembourg scored 72.3 overall, but its standings in drinking water (97.8), wastewater treatment (98), and sanitation (100) are more noteworthy.
Austria is positioned alongside France with an EPI score of 78.1, a GDP per capita of $35,000, and a population of 8.3 million. Due to its lack of fisheries, Austria’s landlocked state helps it rank higher, emphasising its flawless score of 100 in biome protection.
Cuba is a compelling case, with an EPI rating of 78.1.Cuba’s environmental performance looks substantially better than that of its counterparts with similar income levels, who have an average EPI score of 65.7. This raises doubts about the veracity of Cuba’s claimed data.
Over the past decade, Slovenia has successfully reduced pollution from industrial sources, managing to decouple SOx and NOx emissions from its economic growth.
With an EPI score of 76.8, a GDP per capita of $7,600, and a population of 44 million, Colombia is the lowest-ranked country in the top 10. Its high position is attributed to its rich natural resources, achieving a biodiversity and habitat score of 82.7 compared to the average of 51 for its income group.