World's Greenest Nations

The 2010 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) recently ranked 163 countries on their performance in categories including environmental health, air quality, water resource management, biodiversity and habitat, forestry, fisheries, agriculture, and climate change. We list the Top 10:

Produced by a team of environmental experts at Yale University and Columbia University the EPI rankings were released at the World Economic Forum Annual in Davos.

ICELAND

EPI Score: 93.5/100

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 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 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

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

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

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

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 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

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 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.