ENVIRONMENT
Key findings
Do policies preserve national resources and environmental quality?
Environmental policy scores are weighted composites. A qualitative policy assessment [ 
] contributes one-half of this weighting, with five quantitative measures [ 
] each contributing an additional one-tenth.
Scores and methodology
] contributes one-half of this weighting, with five quantitative measures [ ] each contributing an additional one-tenth. Scores and methodology
EnvironmentKey findings: Environmental policy
Each 
represents an individual country and is positioned on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 10 (best). Position cursor over to see scores for individual countries.
Click country name in list or text for details.
represents an individual country and is positioned on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 10 (best). Position cursor over to see scores for individual countries.Click country name in list or text for details.
Score distribution
8.7
1
8.3
2
8.3
8.2
4
7.8
5
7.5
6
7.3
7
7.2
8
7.2
7.2
Most of the countries in this group have excellent environmental records, with declining CO2 emissions and a high or growing share of renewable energy use, and a strong sustainability focus.
Climate-change related emissions are relatively low or falling in a number of states (Austria, Denmark, Norway, Germany, France, Sweden). Renewable energy sources are important in most of these (Austria, Norway, Denmark, Germany).
Nuclear energy plays a large role in Sweden, Finland, and France. Environmental technology is a key industry in Japan, Austria and Finland.
Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany and Norway all have high environmental standards, or a strong policy focus on environmental issues. However, the UK has relatively high CO2 emissions.
Climate-change related emissions are relatively low or falling in a number of states (Austria, Denmark, Norway, Germany, France, Sweden). Renewable energy sources are important in most of these (Austria, Norway, Denmark, Germany).
Nuclear energy plays a large role in Sweden, Finland, and France. Environmental technology is a key industry in Japan, Austria and Finland.
Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany and Norway all have high environmental standards, or a strong policy focus on environmental issues. However, the UK has relatively high CO2 emissions.
7.0
11
6.9
12
6.8
13
6.2
14
6.1
15
5.9
16
5.8
17
5.4
18
5.4
5.2
20
5.0
21
The middle group includes countries that have had difficulties in meeting environmental goals, or are grappling with difficult issues of growth.
The Czech Republic and Luxembourg have seen CO2 emissions drop, but from high levels. Mexico and South Korea are struggling with the pressures of overurbanization.
The Netherlands, Portugal, and Ireland have had difficulties meeting Kyoto emissions-reduction obligations. Poland has found EU environmental goals challenging.
Belgium and the The Netherlands have persistent pollution issues related to their role as intra-European transit hubs. South Korea, Hungary and Portugal have all made strides in waste management issues.
Agricultural discharge and conservation issues remain problematic in New Zealand.
The Czech Republic and Luxembourg have seen CO2 emissions drop, but from high levels. Mexico and South Korea are struggling with the pressures of overurbanization.
The Netherlands, Portugal, and Ireland have had difficulties meeting Kyoto emissions-reduction obligations. Poland has found EU environmental goals challenging.
Belgium and the The Netherlands have persistent pollution issues related to their role as intra-European transit hubs. South Korea, Hungary and Portugal have all made strides in waste management issues.
Agricultural discharge and conservation issues remain problematic in New Zealand.
4.6
22
4.5
23
4.4
24
4.4
4.3
26
4.1
27
4.0
28
3.8
29
3.6
30
Environmental policy has lagged in this lower group, often undermined by energy-intensive economies.
The United States, with a low renewables share, high energy intensity, and its repudiation of the Kyoto agreements, is a particular problem. Canada and Italy too have relatively poor energy mixes.
Canada has failed to meet Kyoto obligations. Australia and Turkey were slow to sign.
Iceland’s energy intensity is high, and conservation efforts are minimal. Water scarcity is a critical problem in Australia and Spain.
Overall environmental management is deemed poor in the United States, Greece, and Italy. Turkey has made recent improvements, while Slovakia has focused on EU obligations.
The United States, with a low renewables share, high energy intensity, and its repudiation of the Kyoto agreements, is a particular problem. Canada and Italy too have relatively poor energy mixes.
Canada has failed to meet Kyoto obligations. Australia and Turkey were slow to sign.
Iceland’s energy intensity is high, and conservation efforts are minimal. Water scarcity is a critical problem in Australia and Spain.
Overall environmental management is deemed poor in the United States, Greece, and Italy. Turkey has made recent improvements, while Slovakia has focused on EU obligations.
Rationale
Environmental policy is at the heart of sustainability, encompassing everything from responses to climate change to energy policy. This criterion covers government activities aimed at safeguarding the environment and enabling sustainable economic development.
In times of global warming and resource scarcity, energy mix is a critical element in environmental policy. Though the fact of human-caused climate change has been widely accepted, not all countries have effectively reduced the emission of greenhouse gases, or have increased the share of alternative and renewable energy sources.
For European countries, EU directives are a critical spur to environmental progress. The question of how to balance ecological and economic concerns remains important everywhere.
Performance comparison
Use drop-down menus for selections. In all cases, higher scores reflect better performance.
