Nations Leading the Green Revolution: Estonia Tops 2024 Environmental Performance Index
In an era where environmental degradation has become a pressing concern, some countries are blazing trails of sustainability and accountability. With their remarkable efforts to balance economic growth with environmental stewardship, these nations serve as beacons of hope for a planet struggling to maintain its ecological balance.
The Environmental Performance Index (EPI), developed by Yale University, Columbia University, and the World Economic Forum (WEF), measures 58 parameters across 11 categories, including air quality, climate change mitigation, water and sanitation, sustainability, and biodiversity. Each country receives a score between 1-100, with higher scores indicating cleaner and healthier environments.
According to the 2024 EPI rankings, Estonia has emerged as the cleanest country in the world, scoring 75.3, closely followed by other green leaders such as Denmark (74.6) and Sweden (74.5).
So, what makes these countries stand out? To gauge environmental performance, the EPI evaluates three broad objectives: ecosystem vitality, climate change performance, and environmental health.
Ecosystem Vitality: This category assesses a country's management of natural resources, conservation of biodiversity, and preservation of forests, fisheries, and water resources. Countries with high scores in this area are notable for their efforts to minimize pollution, protect ecosystems, and promote sustainable agriculture practices.
Climate Change Performance: This objective measures a nation's progress in addressing climate change by implementing mitigation and adaptation policies. Countries ranking high here have implemented effective strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance their resilience to climate-related disasters.
Environmental Health: This category evaluates how well countries safeguard public health from environmental risks such as air pollution, sanitation and water pollution, heavy metals, and waste management. Countries with good scores in this area prioritize public health and environmental protection, ensuring that citizens can breathe clean air and drink safe water.
The top 15 cleanest countries in their order are:
- Estonia (EPI 75.3)
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Norway
- Switzerland
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Finland
- Iceland
- Australia
- Canada
- Austria
- Belgium
- Singapore
- Germany
As travel becomes increasingly popular, this ranking offers valuable insights into the environmental credentials of destinations worldwide, helping tourists make informed choices about their trips and policymakers shape more sustainable policies for future generations.
With Estonia at the helm, these nations are inspiring a global movement toward sustainability, proving that it is possible to balance economic progress with environmental protection.