Switzerland
Score: 95.5
No. 1 Overall; No. 1 in the E.U.
The world’s fifth most affluent nation on a GDP-per-capita basis is also the world’s cleanest.
Switzerland scores a perfect 100 in eight environmental indicators, including
forest health and pesticide regulation. All that cleanliness translates into a
But Switzerland’s mountainous landscape forces farmers to grow crops on every slope and in every cranny,
reducing the country to a merely average score in agricultural practices.
Sweden
Score: 93.1
No. 2 Overall (tie); No. 2 in the E.U. (tie)
Sweden scores strongly in most environmental areas that directly affect human health. The country has low levels of
airborne pollution, pristine drinking water and low per-capita emissions of greenhouse gasses. Nine million Swedes
also treat their forests with utmost care–the country earns a perfect score for forest management.
But they’re not nearly as careful
Costa Rica
Score: 93.1
No. 2 Overall (tie); No. 2 in the E.U. (tie)
European countries stand out in environmental health, the effect of pollutants on human well-being. Norway, the world’s third richest country,
scores a perfect 100 in water quality, sanitation, ozone levels and airborne particulates, which means Norwegians have a lesser likelihood
of respiratory disease. Hydro power generates 98% of Norway’s electricity, but offshore oil rigs generate substantial greenhouses gasses
Costa Rica
Score: 90.5
No. 5 Overall; No. 1 in the
Costa Rica’s economy relies on a robust ecotourism industry, and the care it takes for its environment shows.
The Central American country ranks fifth in the global Environmental Index, a rating that should only improve as it
strives to become carbon-neutral by 2021. Costa Rica has avoided the deforestation that ravages some Latin American countries:
the country earns a score of 97 or better in the categories of forestry,
But the country isn’t as kind to its offshore environment, scoring abysmally in the marine protected areas category.
Colombia
Score: 88.3
No. 9 Overall; No. 2 in the Americas
Colombia’s relative prosperity is tied to the productivity of its land, specifically agricultural products like coffee and flowers that provide export income. The South American country preserves the quality of its crop land by making sure that soil is allowed to lie fallow–at least 40% of cropping areas are left uncultivated at any given time–earning Colombia a 99.9 score in the intensive crop land category. Columbia’s clean environment makes for a healthy population with a life expectancy of 73 years.
New Zealand
Score: 88.9
No. 7 Overall; No. 1 in
Sparsely populated New Zealand is an outdoorsman’s paradise, and the country pays great attention to maintaining its environment. New Zealand scores 84.9 on the effective conservation index, far outpacing its regional and economic score of 30. New Zealand earns near-perfect scores for water and air quality as well. But the country’s industry and utility sectors are dirty, generating more than their fair share of CO2.
Croatia
Score: 84.6
No. 20 Overall; No. 1 in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Croatia recognizes the value of tourism and makes clean beaches a priority. The country, which lies across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, offers visitors ample, healthy fishing stocks and freedom from waterborne disease. But the legacy of decades of communist rule endures: Soviet-era industry pumps out greenhouse gasses and particulates, causing the country’s air quality to suffer. Croatia’s overall biodiversity index score is just 14, vs. a still-weak 34.8 for the region.
Albania
Score: 84
No. 25 Overall; No. 2 in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Albania, like its Eastern European peers, is no environmental superstar. But the country has never fully industrialized–it’s per-capita GDP is just $6,000– saving it from toxic development that continues to handicap the region. The lack of industry means Albania produces little greenhouse gas and rates a near-perfect 99.1 for its low level of ozone. But the propensity for wood-burning heating causes Albania to rate just 47.7 on the indoor air pollution index.
Israel
Score: 79.6
No. 49 Overall; No. 1 in the Middle East and North Africa
The 7.2 million residents of Israel enjoy water quality, sanitation and air quality scores that rival those in Europe’s cleanest countries,
contributing to a life expectancy of 81 years. The generally dry country even scores a 100 for the management of its limited forests.
But Israel scores an abysmal 4.5 out of 100 on pesticide regulation, vs. an average of 56.4 for the region, suggesting toxic chemicals
may find their way into the food supply.
