Most Environmentally Friendly Countries 2022

Eco-friendly, nature-friendly, or green nations employ methods and practices that have the least impact on ecosystems and are hence referred to as environmentally friendly countries.

Sustainable environmental practices can be continued indefinitely while having little or no detrimental influence on the environment in which they are used.

Many products, services, regulations, standards, and policies are referred to as “environmentally friendly” when they do not harm the environment or ecosystems.

Using environmentally friendly goods, methods, and practices has no negative impact on the environment, helps save resources like water and energy, and doesn’t add to the air, water, or land pollution.

The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is a way to gauge a country’s environmental friendliness.

Developed by Yale University’s Center for Environmental Law and Policy, the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) calculates the environmental effect of all of a country’s programs in aggregate.

The 2020 Environmental Performance Index rates 180 nations based on 32 performance parameters, including air pollution, water purity, fish stock health, and wetland management, in terms of environmental health and ecosystem vitality.

Governments may use the Environmental Progress Index (EPI) to develop successful policies for protecting the environment. Governments may assess their progress toward their stated environmental policy objectives using EPI metrics.

World’s Top 10 Most Eco-Friendly Countries (according to EPI):

1. Denmark — 82.5
2. Luxembourg — 82.3
3. Switzerland — 81.5
4. United Kingdom — 81/3
5. France — 80
6. Austria — 79.6
7. Finland — 78.9
8. Sweden — 78.7
9. Norway — 77.7
10. Germany — 77.2

1. Denmark

Denmark has been named the most environmentally friendly nation in the world, with an EPI score of 82.5. When it comes to environmental quality and biodiversity, Denmark is a standout.

Denmark has long championed environmentally-friendly items such as eco-friendly hotels, solar-powered boats, and organic food as part of its efforts to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and avert climate change.

2-3: Luxembourg and Switzerland

Known as the second-most environmentally-friendly nation globally, Luxembourg has an abundance of biodiversity and habitats and a large amount of water. Despite its fast-expanding population and GDP, Luxembourg has achieved great strides in environmental health protection.

As the third-best country in the world in terms of environmental health, Switzerland also excels in other areas, such as water cleanliness and availability. Eco-friendly and resource-efficient goods are becoming more important in Switzerland’s public sector. Japan has a reputation as a global leader in recycling.

4-5: The United Kingdom and France

Securing the 4th-highest EPI score in the world, the United Kingdom achieved a flawless score of 100 for sanitation & drinking water and sound home fuel management.

Climate change affects China more than any other nation, and its pollution levels are also among the highest in the world. These placements are pretty outstanding in light of the country’s 66.52 million residents.

France ranks fifth in terms of water sanitation & pollution emissions, fourth in terms of climate change, and fifth in biodiversity.

French environmental measures include deploying hydro turbines along its rivers and prohibiting its grocery stores from discarding or destroying high-quality food that has not yet been sold.

6-7: Austria and Finland

Sixth on the list of environmentally friendly countries, Austria adheres to some of Europe’s tightest waste management, chemical, and pollution restrictions.

Pesticides and fertilizers are likewise subject to strict controls in agriculture. As a result of these rules, Austria receives a flawless score of 100 for water quality and pollutant discharges.

With a global air quality score of 99.3, Finland is #1 in the world for air quality, while its sanitation, drinking water, and heavy metals all scored 100. Forest and animal protection are top objectives in Finland, which gets around 35% of its electricity from renewable sources.

8-10: Sweden, Norway, and Germany

Sweden, a neighboring country, takes eighth place in the rankings for air quality (98.2), solid waste (99.1), and lead (99.1). Known for its utilization of renewable energy sources & minimal carbon dioxide emissions, Sweden is a highly sustainable country.

Norway’s environmental health is at an all-time high of 98.5, with a perfect 100 for sanitation & drinking water.

This year, the government of Norway has established a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030. Germany rounds out of the top ten with a sanitation score of 100 out of 100 and a biodiversity score of 4 out of 10.

To achieve a renewable energy revolution, Germany has enacted a slew of legislation to reduce the country’s environmental impact.

Alternate methods of measuring environmental friendliness

Despite the EPI’s reputation as the most thorough indicator of environmental friendliness on a national scale, other measurements and opinions exist and may provide a different point of view.

If you’re interested in environmental issues and sustainability, check out the U.S. News Best Countries list.

Also See: Hottest Countries in the World 2022

InterNations, a website for expatriates, surveyed more than 15,000 ex-pats and asked them about the stability of the nations they now reside in. The tables that follow show the findings from both polls.