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Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Travel green: Top 10 cleanest countries leading the fight against pollution
I n an era marked by environmental challenges, such as pollution, deforestation, and climate change, it takes a lot for a nation to manage their environmental responsibilities. In this context, the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) provides a comprehensive evaluation of countries based on environmental health and ecosystem vitality, offering insight into global efforts toward sustainability. (Data sourced from World Population Review) Developed jointly by researchers at Yale University and Columbia University, the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) evaluates how clean and environmentally responsible 180 countries are. The EPI uses 58 indicators across 11 categories to measure progress toward three key policy goals: ecosystem vitality, climate change performance, and environmental health. These categories cover areas like air quality, water and sanitation, biodiversity, habitat protection, and sustainability practices. While a fully sustainable world remains a goal for the future, some countries have made remarkable progress. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Pieces of Clothing you should Ditch over 40 Learn More Undo Once countries receive their scores, they are ranked from cleanest to most polluted, offering governments a clear benchmark to gauge the success of their environmental policies and track progress toward sustainability goals. Read more: Best hill stations in India for starry nights and mountain vibes, ideal for sky gazers Top 10 cleanest countries – 2024 EPI results Estonia — 75.3 Topping the chart, Estonia excels in air quality, ecosystem health, and climate action. Known for its renewable energy push, sustainable forestry, and carbon-neutral public transport, this Baltic nation blends digital innovation with a deep respect for nature. Luxembourg — 75.0 Punching far above its size, Luxembourg leads in water management (90.6) and sanitation (99.8). With over 55% of land under protection, it also ranks high in biodiversity (84.8), driven by strict EU-aligned environmental standards. Germany — 74.6 Germany scores high in wastewater treatment (100% coverage, 89.1 score) and biodiversity protection (82.4). Its green infrastructure and conservation efforts prove sustainability can work alongside industrial strength. Finland — 73.7 With perfect scores in sanitation, drinking water, and heavy metal management, Finland also shines in forest conservation and air quality — seamlessly integrating environmental stewardship into daily life. United Kingdom — 72.7 The UK leads in marine protection, safeguarding over 30% of its ocean territory. It has cut greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 30% in the last decade, pairing strong conservation with ambitious climate goals. Read more: 7 breathtaking and epic viewpoints in the Nilgiris and Kodagu Sweden — 70.5 Globally known for low emissions and renewable energy, Sweden excels in air quality, sanitation, and heavy metals control, while maintaining healthy forests and reducing agricultural pollution. Norway — 70.0 Norway's heavy metals management earns a perfect 100, and its clean air score of 82.9 reflects strong pollution controls. Nearly all electricity comes from renewables, underscoring its green leadership. Austria — 69.0 Austria enforces strict pesticide, fertilizer, and pollution regulations, achieving a 96.0 in sanitation. Its lush landscapes — two-thirds covered in forests and meadows — remain central to its environmental success. Switzerland — 68.0 With flawless scores in drinking water, sanitation, and heavy metals control, Switzerland's reputation for pristine nature is well earned, supported by abundant wildlife and rigorous environmental protections. Denmark — 67.9 Denmark earns top marks in heavy metals control and continues investing in clean energy, organic farming, and eco-friendly hospitality. While its emissions reduction pace has slowed, it remains a global sustainability icon.
Deccan Herald
31-07-2025
- Business
- Deccan Herald
What India can learn from Turkiye's green leap
Even as India-Turkiye ties face strain over Ankara's role following the Pakistan-orchestrated attack in Pahalgam, it is worth examining Turkiye's climate governance change is a shared existential challenge. On July 2, Turkiye's Grand National Assembly passed its first climate law, placing its commitments on a legal footing. It sets a 2053 net-zero target, establishes a national Emissions Trading System (ETS), enshrines 'climate justice' and 'just transition', and mandates institutions such as a climate change directorate, carbon markets board, adaptation bodies, and an EU-aligned Green Taxonomy. Funds and incentives for renewables and resilience planning are also shift moves Turkiye from aspirational policies to binding obligations for emission cuts, climate finance, and biodiversity. Yet, environmentalists argue the law is 'far from ideal'..Strengths and law stands out for its binding net-zero target and accountability provisions covering public and private actors, shielding policy from reversals. Its multi-level governance model, via provincial boards chaired by governors, recognises the local nature of climate impacts: urban floods, droughts, or wildfires. The ETS and green taxonomy align environmental goals with trade needs, especially given Turkiye's EU export exposure and the looming Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Enforcement is robust: fines from 500,000 to 5 million Turkish Liras ($12,500-125,000) for reporting breaches demonstrate serious gaps persist. Sector-specific targets are absent, complicating Paris Agreement alignment. The law omits any fossil fuel phase-out, despite Turkiye's reliance on coal and gas. There is no independent expert advisory body to provide oversight, raising questions over transparency. Furthermore, continued mining approvals in sensitive zones risk 'greenwashing' development. Civil society participation remains constrained, limiting grassroots monitoring, and democratic policy and promise of India's co-op for can learn much from this experiment. First is the move from policy to law. Unlike India's non-binding climate missions, Turkiye's statute embeds obligations enforceable by courts, integrating climate governance more deeply within the State apparatus. Second, decentralisation is key. Turkiye's provincial plans and adaptation strategies could inform India's states and municipalities, often first responders to floods, droughts, and heatwaves, but they lack in phased ETS also offers a valuable model. By linking with trade imperatives like the CBAM, Turkiye provides a blueprint for India to develop carbon pricing gradually, avoiding disruption while signalling market seriousness. Equally important are its green taxonomy and finance framework. India, despite progress on ESG disclosures and green bonds, still lacks a harmonised classification of climate-aligned investments..A unified taxonomy would aid investors and streamline capital for low-carbon projects. Turkiye's legal inclusion of 'climate justice' and 'just transition' is especially relevant for India's socio-economic diversity. Communities dependent on fossil fuels need re-skilling, compensation, and alternative livelihoods to ensure fairness in energy Turkiye's misstep in permitting mining underscores the need for coherence. India, too, must align industrial, energy, and infrastructure policies with its environmental goals to avoid internal unique replication is neither feasible nor desirable. India's demographic scale, rural economy, and 79% coal-based power mix demand a tailored approach. A legal framework here must combine emissions reduction with livelihood safeguards and inclusive growth. Capacity-building is another as Turkiye delayed local strategy rollouts until 2027 for training and institutional readiness, India must invest in equipping municipal and state authorities with technical skills and resources. Public participation is where India could excel. Its vibrant civil society, if systematically engaged, could deliver greater transparency, scrutiny, and enforcement than Turkiye's centralised India's fragmented programmes, from energy efficiency to afforestation, into a single, overarching law could provide clarity. A comprehensive climate Act could unify adaptation, mitigation, finance, and just transition in one enforceable a climate-legal climate law marks an important moment in global environmental governance. For India, its strengths: legal enforceability, decentralisation, and alignment with trade are instructive, as are its weaknesses: lack of sectoral targets, fossil fuel ambiguity, and restricted public set to host 1.6 billion people by mid-century, faces mounting climate stresses. Relying solely on voluntary missions is inadequate. By borrowing from Ankara's experiment while tailoring to Indian realities, New Delhi can forge a statutory framework fit for its scale and complexity..A thoughtfully drafted climate Act would move India beyond piecemeal schemes towards a co-ordinated, enforceable transition. By embedding equity and coherence, it can deliver not only emissions cuts but also economic resilience and social fairness. For a country balancing rapid urbanisation, coal dependence, and climate vulnerability, the stakes are lesson from Turkiye is clear: binding, multi-level legislation is not a luxury but an imperative. Done well, it could anchor India's climate ambition in law, turning disparate efforts into a genuine national transition..(Former ambassador Anil Trigunayat is a distinguished fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation. Sumit Kaushik is principal adviser, Council for New Economy Research (CNER)).
