Yale University's rank of 163 countries according to an environmental performance index (A weighting of carbon and sulfur emissions, water purity and conservation practices)
ICELAND
EPI Score: 93.5/100
Iceland is a European island country located in the North Atlantic Ocean on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It has a population of about 320,000 and a total area of 103,000 km2 (39,769 sq mi).The capital and largest city is Reykjavík, with the surrounding areas in the southwestern region of the country being home to some two-thirds of the national population. Iceland is volcanically and geologically active.
Iceland leads the world in addressing pollution control and natural resource management challenges. The nation's top-notch performance derives from its high scores on environmental public health, controlling greenhouse gas emissions, and reforestation, according to a media release from Yale University.
SWITZERLAND
EPI Score: 89.1/100
Switzerland officially the Swiss Confederation (Confoederatio Helvetica in Latin, hence its ISO country codes CH and CHE), is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe where it is bordered by Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east.
Switzerland slipped from last year's numero uno position to No. 2 this year. The nation has however, made substantial investments in environmental infrastructure, pollution control, and policies designed to move toward long-term sustainability.
COSTA RICA
EPI Score: 86.4/100
Costa Rica officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the east and south, the Pacific Ocean to the west and south and the Caribbean Sea to the east.
Costa Rica climbed from number five in 2008 and number 15 in 2006, the first year the indicator was published. The EPI index is produced every two years. Costa Rica is an eco-tourism pioneer which is now cashing in on its pristine beaches and national parks.
Incidentally, the World Database of Happiness, compiled by a Dutch sociologist, lists Costa Rica as the 'happiest' nation out of 148 countries.
SWEDEN
EPI Score: 86/100
Sweden officially the Kingdom of Sweden is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden has land borders with Norway to the west and Finland to the northeast, and water borders with Denmark, Germany, and Poland to the south, and Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Russia to the east. Sweden is also connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.
About 15% of Sweden lies north of the Arctic Circle. Southern Sweden is predominantly agricultural, with increasing forest coverage northward. Around 65% of Sweden's total land area is covered with forests.The nation has been credited with making substantial investments in environmental infrastructure, pollution control, and policies designed to move toward long-term sustainability.
NORWAY
EPI Score: 81.1/100
Norway officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe occupying the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, as well as Jan Mayen and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.Norway has a total area of 385,252 square kilometres (148,747 sq mi) and a population of about 4.8 million.It is one of the most sparsely populated countries in Europe.The majority of the country shares a border to the east with Sweden; its northernmost region is bordered by Finland to the south and Russia to the east; and Denmark lies south of its southern tip across the Skagerrak Strait. The capital city of Norway is Oslo. Norway's extensive coastline, facing the North Atlantic Ocean and the Barents Sea, is home to its famous fjords.
The "Land of the Midnight Sun" slipped 4 positions from its second position in the 2008 EPI rankings. The nation however, scored well on substantial investments in environmental infrastructure, pollution control, and policies designed to move toward long-term sustainability.
Norway has a larger number of different habitats than almost any other European country. There are approximately 60,000 species in Norway and adjacent waters (excluding bacteria and virus). The Norwegian Shelf large marine ecosystem is considered highly productive.
MAURITIUS
EPI Score: 80.6/100
Mauritius officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about 900 kilometres (560 mi) east of Madagascar. In addition to the island of Mauritius, the Republic includes the islands of Cargados Carajos, Rodrigues and the Agalega Islands. Mauritius Island is part of the Mascarene Islands, with the French island of Réunion 200 km (120 mi) to the southwest and the island of Rodrigues 570 km (350 mi) to the northeast.
The island is well known for its natural beauty. Conservation work in Mauritius is carried out by the National Parks and Conservation Service (NPCS) and by non-governmental organizations such as the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF) and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (DWCT).
The Black River Gorges National Park covers 65.74 km² of land and another 45 km² is protected by nature reserves such as Round Island and Île aux Aigrettes. Efforts to preserve native flora and fauna have included captive breeding, habitat restoration and the eradication of introduced species.
FRANCE
EPI Score: 78.2/100
France officially the French Republic is a state in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans.Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. It is often referred to as L’Hexagone ("The Hexagon") because of the geometric shape of its territory. It is bordered (clockwise starting from the northeast) by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Monaco; with Spain and Andorra to the south. France is linked to the United Kingdom by the Channel Tunnel, which passes underneath the English Channel.
The index is based on each country's performance in 10 primary areas: environmental burden of disease, water resources for human health, air quality for human health, air quality for ecosystems, water resources for ecosystems, biodiversity and habitat, forestry, fisheries, agriculture and climate change.
AUSTRIA
EPI Score: 78.1/100
Austria officially the Republic of Austria is a landlocked country of roughly 8.3 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The territory of Austria covers 83,872 square kilometres (32,383 sq mi) and has a temperate and alpine climate. Austria's terrain is highly mountainous due to the presence of the Alps; only 32% of the country is below 500 metres (1,640 ft), and its highest point is 3,797 metres (12,457 ft).The majority of the population speaks German, which is also the country's official language.Other local official languages are Croatian, Hungarian and Slovene.
Austria is one of the 12 richest countries in the world in terms of GDP per capita, has a well-developed social market economy, and a high standard of living.
The nation scored well on substantial investments in environmental infrastructure, pollution control, and policies designed to move toward long-term sustainability.
CUBA
EPI Score: 78.1/100
The Republic of Cuba is an island country in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos.Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city.
Cuba's air quality matches or exceeds that of number one Iceland, and its management of forestry and fisheries also rank near the top.
COLOMBIA
EPI Score: 76.8/100
Colombia is a constitutional republic in northwestern South America. Colombia is bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil;[7] to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the northwest by Panama; and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. Colombia also shares maritime borders with Venezuela, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.With a population of over 45 million people, Colombia has the 29th largest population in the world and the second largest in South America, after Brazil. Colombia has the fourth largest Spanish-speaking population in the world after Mexico, the United States, and Spain.
Colombia is home to 10% of the world's species, with a wealth of ecological diversity. While Colombia has had problems in the past concerning deforestation, the detrimental effects of the coca trade, and political strife involving their natural oil deposits, all these factors have helped to move Colombia towards energy conservation and new, less politically tumultuous resources. Colombia has also begun programs for the cultivation of natural parks that support the growth of native medicinal plants.
Source : Yale,wikipedia
No comments:
Post a Comment