Many companies claim that their production will environmentally friendly... Examples include various manufacturers of hybrid vehicles. Of course, these cars use significantly less "fossil fuels" than conventional cars, but still, greenhouse gas emissions remain high. Sometimes companies focus on getting environmentally friendly productwhile forgetting about the need to organize environmentally friendly production process.

The foreign site greenergynews.com has published a list of 10 companies that are suitable for solving environmental problems much more responsible.

• IKEAIKEA uses a lot of wood to make furniture, however, the company uses quality forestry methods, which means that the little stylish nightstand you just bought didn't cost the planet a huge piece of forest. The company is also investing in the development of solar and wind energy technologies on an unprecedented scale. At the same time, it plans to further increase investments in renewable energy sources.
• NikeThis shoe giant is making a huge contribution to protecting the environment. Thanks to strict adherence to emission standards, the company has managed to reduce emissions by 80% over the past decades. In addition (according to greenergynews.com) Nike produces the "greenest" football boots.
• Johnson & JohnsonIn an effort to become the most socially responsible organization in the world, Johnson & Johnson has converted a significant portion of its production to solar energy. The company is currently the second largest consumer of solar energy in the United States, and more than half of the energy used by its factories comes from clean sources.
• QMI ServicesQMI designs and manufactures equipment that allows other companies to minimize their energy costs and thereby reduce their environmental impact.
• Philips ElectronicsIn addition to striving to maximize energy efficiency during manufacturing, Philips also invests billions of euros in environmental research.
• Earth tecEarth Tec is a recycling and recyclable company that has also made a significant contribution to solving environmental problems on our planet.
• SchottIt is a glass company that became the world's first manufacturer of glass ceramic hob without using heavy metals as additives. Restricting the use of heavy metals is critical to environmental sustainability because the methods used to mine heavy metals cause serious environmental damage. In addition, Schott has been able to significantly reduce its emissions to the environment over the past decades.
• DellSince 2008 has been successfully implementing emission reduction program into the environment. The company is scheduled to cut its emissions from 2008 to the end of 2015 by about 40%.
• TupperwareTupperware maintains very stringent environmental controls at all of its operations around the world, resulting in improved energy efficiency in manufacturing processes, reduced emissions and efficient recycling of industrial waste.
• IBMFrom 1990 to 2000, IBM was able to reduce its total energy use by 5.1 billion kilowatt-hours, which is a very impressive figure.

Here is such a top-10 environmentally friendly manufacturers in the world, improving their work for the benefit of society and nature.

The cleanest country in the world is Switzerland - the state-leader in solving issues of environmental pollution control and problems with natural resources. The dirtiest country on the planet Iraq... But this is only for the state of the environment today. In the ranking of trends in the development of the environmental situation over the past 10 years, the shameful last place is Russia... While the leading country in terms of environmental improvement from 2000 to 2010 is Latvia... The ranking of the cleanest and dirtiest countries in the world with an index of well-being of environmental trends in 2012 was Yale and Columbia Universities.

Top ten environmentally friendly countries included, in addition to Switzerland, which took first place, small states and major European powers: Latvia (2nd place), Norway (3rd place), Luxembourg (4th place), Costa Rica (5th place), France (6th place), Austria (7th place), Italy (8th place), Great Britain and Northern Ireland (9th place), Sweden (10th place). The rating once again proved the difference between the ecology of developed and developing countries (5th place in Costa Rica and 49th in the USA - an exception to the rule). However, according to Western experts, the point is not at all that the major European powers are transferring all their harmful industries to the poor countries of the world. It is about the size of GDP per capita, as well as investments in basic environmental goods (people's access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation). Developing countries are still on the way to ensuring a high standard of living for their populations, as well as moving towards more sustainable production and consumption processes.

Top ten countries with the worst ecology , in addition to Iraq, which ranked last, included: Turkmenistan (131st place), Uzbekistan (130th place), Kazakhstan (129th place), South Africa (128th place), Yemen (127th place), Kuwait (126th place), India (125th place) , Bosnia and Herzegovina (124th place), Libya (123rd place). The greatest concern among health experts is the ecological situation in China (116th place) and in India, since one third of the world's population lives in these countries. Air pollution in the Middle Kingdom is already the biggest threat to the health of its inhabitants. As an English newspaper writes The guardian, « the incidence of lung cancer in Chinese cities in 2-3 times higher than in rural areas, despite the fact that they smoke both there and there equally". Health experts predict that polluted air will kill every year by 2050 3.6 million person. And most of these deaths will occur in India and China.

6 of the dirtiest countries in the world are also in the Top 10 countries with extremely negative environmental trends (right column in the general table). The worst results in changing the environmental situation from 2000 to 2010, as mentioned above, were shown by Russia. Kuwait is in second place in this black list, Saudi Arabia is in third, followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Iraq, South Africa, and Turkmenistan closes the top ten outsiders. According to the conclusion of Western experts, Russia has demonstrated the worst tendencies in the environmental situation due to critically low indicators in the field of environmental protection. The population of the Russian Federation uses the country's weak environmental legislation, which results in such problems as exceeding all permissible norms for fishing and deforestation. The only environmental indicator that has improved in Russia over the past 10 years is the amount of sulfur dioxide emissions. Oddly enough, it has decreased.

The position of our country and the nine countries of the world that have joined it looks especially sad compared to the rest of the rating participants. The vast majority of countries have improved their environmental performance in the period from 2000 to 2010. Top Trends showed Latvia, in second place - Azerbaijan, in third - Romania, followed by Albania, Egypt, Angola, Slovakia, Ireland, Belgium and Thailand.

Each of the 132 countries participating in the ranking was rated by 22 parameters, including: the detrimental effect of the environment on the health of the population, the impact of polluted air and polluted water on human health, the effect of a polluted atmosphere and water resources on ecosystems, the state of forests, the scale of fishing and agriculture, climate change and much more.

Environmental card of Russia:

Environmental card of Ukraine:

Environmental card of Belarus:

Environmental card of Kazakhstan:

Environmental card of Moldova:

In our century, continuing the traditions of the previous century of scientific and technological progress, people have learned to value ecology. Everybody wants to breathe tonight clean air, drink clean water, eat healthy food. Some people solve these issues by buying clean water from the store, installing air purifiers at home and buying expensive, but natural, food. Other people are trying to move to live in a cleaner area. But where to look for such oases of purity? Let's see where the cleanest cities in the world are.

The American edition of The Forbes has published a rating of the most environmentally friendly countries in the world. 140 countries were assessed using The Environmental Performance Index, developed by Columbia and Yale Universities. The methodology is based on assessing the ecology according to 25 criteria (ranging from air purity and water quality to biodiversity and pesticide use).

1.Switzerland

Switzerland scored 95.5 points out of 100 possible.

State in Central Europe; borders with France, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Italy. Area - 41.3 thousand sq. km The main territory of the country is located in the Alps. A system of powerful mountain ranges stretches from the south-west to the north-east - the Pennines, Lepontinsky, Rhetiansky, Glarnsky Alps. On average, they rise to high. 3500 m, and individual peaks (Jungfrau, Finsteraarhorn, Matterhorn, etc.) - above 4000 m. The highest point in the country is Dufour peak (4634 m). There are many firn fields and glaciers in the mountains, the total area of \u200b\u200bwhich is approx. 1950 sq. km. The main passes (Saint Bernard, Saint Gotthard, Simplon, Bernina) are located above 2000 m. To the northwest of the Alps, at an altitude of 400-1200 m, lies the Swiss plateau with hilly relief and numerous lakes. Even further to the northwest and west, at heights of up to 1679 m, the Jura Mountains and the karst plateau of the same name rise. The climate is temperate, humid, altitudinal zonation is clearly expressed in the mountains. The average January temperature on the Swiss Highlands is approx. 0 ° С, at high. 1500 m 7 ° С, at the exit. 2500 m -14 ° C. The average July temperature is +19, + 12 ° C, respectively. On the plateau 800-1200 mm of precipitation falls per year, on the windward western slopes of the Alps - 2500 mm, on the leeward slopes and 1000-1500 mm. In the mountains in winter there is a thick snow cover, avalanches often come down. The rivers are rapids and abounding in water; large reserves of hydropower. The Rhine flows here (with a tributary of the Aare), the upper reaches of the Rhone, Inna, Ticino are located; large picturesque lakes - Constance, Geneva, Lake Maggiore and others. Many lakes and r. The Rhine (from Basel) is navigable. In Switzerland, forests cover almost 30% of the territory, agricultural land - approx. 42.5% (arable land - 10%, pastures and hayfields - 32.5%). Until the exit. 800 m dominated by arable land, orchards, vineyards; the lower parts of the mountain slopes are covered with broadleaf forests of oak, beech, ash, elm, maple, linden; higher (up to 1800-2400 m) coniferous forests of spruce, fir, pine and larch dominate; along the valleys - thickets of alder. Further (up to 2800 m) - subalpine and alpine meadows, thickets of rhododendron, azalea, juniper, even higher - rocks, snowfields, glaciers. There are many reserves and sanctuaries in the country; in the east, in the valley of the river. The Engadine and its surroundings are located in the Swiss National Park.

One of the richest nations in the world in terms of GDP per capita - the cleanest in the world. Switzerland has all the conditions to live a long life

2.Sweden

Kingdom of Sweden - a state in Northern Europe; occupies the eastern and southern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Gotland and Oland Islands in the Baltic Sea. Area - 450.5 thousand sq. km. In the east, Sweden is washed by the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia, in the south and southwest by the Danish straits. In the northern and western parts of the country, mountains and plateaus prevail, in the south - hilly plains and lowlands. The Scandinavian mountains stretch along the border with Norway, to the east of them - up to the Gulf of Bothnia - the Norland plateau. The highest point of the country is Mount Kebnekaise (2123 m). In the north of the country there are 370 glaciers with a total area of \u200b\u200b314 sq. km. The rivers are rapids and rich in hydropower. The lakes cover approx. 9% of the territory. The northern territories and highlands are covered with tundra, which occupies almost 15% of the country's area. One of the main natural resources of Sweden is forests, mainly pine and spruce; south of 60 ° N. sh. - mixed. Forests cover 57% of the territory. Large areas are occupied by swamps (14%). There are many national parks and reserves in the country. Agricultural land is located in the very south of the country and in the east along the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. They occupy just over 8% of the territory (6.7% - arable land; 1.4% - pastures).

The climate is temperate, transitional from maritime to continental; due to the large extent of the country, it varies greatly from north to south. The average January temperature in the north is from -6 to -14 ° С, in the south - from 0 to +5 ° С; July - from +10 ° С in the north to +17 ° С in the south. On the plains there are 500-700 mm of precipitation per year, in the mountains 1500-2000 mm. In the end. 8-beg. 11th century Swedish Vikings (known in Western Europe as the Normans, and in Russia - the Varangians), raided neighboring lands, including Russia, Byzantium and the Arab Caliphate. From ser. 12th century Swedish kings made crusades against the Finnish tribes and in the beginning. 14 c. conquered Finland. In 1389, a union was concluded with Denmark, and in 1397 - a tripartite alliance, which included Norway. This union disintegrated in mid. 15th century All R. 16th century Sweden entered the struggle for domination in the Baltic, which resulted in a series of Russian-Swedish wars. In the 17th century. Sweden became one of the most powerful states in Europe, which allowed it to achieve temporary successes in the Northern War of 1700-1721. with Russia.

3.Norway

The Kingdom of Norway is a state in Northern Europe; occupies the western and northern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Spitsbergen archipelago, the Bear and Jan Mayen Islands in the North Atlantic. Area - 387 thousand sq. km (including Norway - a mountainous country. Almost all of its territory is occupied by the Scandinavian mountains, strongly dissected by fjords and cut by deep valleys. The highest point is Mount Galhopiggen (2469 m). In the southern and northern parts of the country there are high plateaus (fjelds ), there are many islands off the coast.
The mountains are covered with vast glaciers with a total area of \u200b\u200balmost 3000 sq. km. In addition, on about. Spitsbergen glaciers occupy 36.6 thousand square meters. km.

Norway is a highly developed industrial country, one of the richest countries in Europe. The gross domestic product is $ 149 billion, more than $ 33,000 per capita per year. The country's main source of wealth is oil and gas production on the North Sea shelf and fishing. Electrometallurgy and electrochemistry, pulp and paper and fish processing industries, shipbuilding and production of offshore oil drilling platforms, electrical and radioelectronic industries, production and sale of electricity are developed. Together, these industries account for 31% of GDP. The main branch of agriculture (2% of GDP) is meat and dairy cattle breeding, barley and oats are produced from cereals. The service sector and international tourism account for 67% of GDP. The southern part of the country has an extensive rail and road network. Many long (up to 10-12 km) tunnels linking mountainous areas; there is a widespread ferry service across the fjords; a number of coastal islands are connected to the mainland by high bridges.

The capital of Norway is Oslo; is located on the northern shore of the Oslofjord Bay, which juts deep into the land. Founded ca. 1048 from the end. 13th century until 1380 - the residence of the Norwegian kings, from 1572 - the center of Danish administration in Norway. After the fire of 1624, it was rebuilt in a new place and named Cristiania (after the Danish king Christian IV). In 1814 it was declared the capital of Norway. Population - approx. 500 thousand inhabitants, in the Greater Oslo agglomeration - more than 900 thousand people. The largest transport hub in the country, port, Fornebu International Airport. Oslo produces a quarter of all industrial production in Norway. Mechanical engineering is well developed (including shipbuilding); electrical, radio-electronic, chemical, printing industry. On the Bygdø Peninsula there are museums with ancient Viking ships, the legendary "Fram" F. Nansen, rafts "Kon-tiki" and "Ra-2" Thor Heyerdahl.

4 Costa Rica

The Republic of Costa Rica (Spanish Rep? Blica de Costa Rica, translated as "rich coast") is one of the smallest states in Central America. Located in the narrowest part of the isthmus connecting two continents. Costa Rica borders two countries: Nicaragua to the north and the Republic of Panama to the southeast. The Pacific Ocean washes the shores from the south and west and the Caribbean Sea from the east. Despite its location, Costa Rica is a predominantly "white" country. The capital of Costa Rica is the city of San Jose (890 thousand inhabitants). Costa Rica is the first country in the world to abolish the army - in 1949, after the civil war.

The fourth cleanest in the world. The economy of Costa Rica is heavily dependent on ecotourism, which is why the country is aiming to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2021. Costa Rica has been able to avoid serious deforestation that threatens other Latin American countries. She received 97 points out of 100 possible in the categories "forests", "air pollution" and "climate change". On the other hand, the country is not doing very well with the issues of protection and preservation of marine territories in need of protection.

5 Colombia

Colombia's prosperity is directly related to land fertility and the cultivation of agricultural products. Incl. it is about the cultivation of coffee and flowers, which provide export income. The South American country protects the quality of its land. Colombia's clean environment is a guarantee of a healthy population with a life expectancy of 73 years.

Colombia (Spanish Colombia), the official name of the Republic of Colombia is Spanish. Rep? Blica de Colombia is a state in the northwest of South America. The capital is Bogota. It shares borders with Brazil and Venezuela in the east, in the south - with Ecuador and Peru, in the west - with Panama. It is washed by the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The name of the country comes from the name of the famous seafaring traveler, Christopher Columbus, who discovered America. In 1819, the Federal Republic of Colombia (or Greater Colombia) was proclaimed, which united the former Captaincy General of Venezuela and the Viceroyalty of New Granada. However, later, after the separation of Ecuador and Venezuela, the country became known as New Granada. Since 1858, the country has become known as the Granada Confederation, since 1863 - the United States of Colombia. Since 1886, the current name has been established - the Republic of Colombia. Colombia is one of two South American states with access to both the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean (the other is Chile). Colombia is washed by the Pacific Ocean in the west and the Caribbean Sea in the northwest. In the west of the country, the Andes stretch from north to south, dissected by the Magdalena, Cauca and other smaller rivers. In the east there is a plateau, crossed by tributaries of the Amazon. Lowlands stretch along the coasts.

In the north of Colombia lies the Caribbean lowland with a subequatorial arid climate. The main ports of the country and the main resorts attracting foreign tourists are located here. There is also a separate mountain range Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta with a snowy peak Cristobal Colon (5775 m), which is the highest mountain of Colombia. The western coast is occupied by a narrow Pacific lowland with heavy rainfall throughout the year and large tides, which makes the beaches of this region less popular with tourists. The lagoons along the Pacific coast are occupied by powerful mangroves. In the south of the country, the Andes branch into three parallel ranges, called the Western, Central and Eastern Cordillera, which stretch to the north for more than 3 thousand kilometers. In the intermontane valleys are the main agricultural land of the country and most of the population of Colombia lives. But many extinct and active volcanoes, as well as the high seismicity of the territory, damage the population and the economy. The Colombian part of the Llanos region is located in the southern part of the Orinoc lowland. The subequatorial hot climate with humid summers and dry winters determines the distribution in the region of wet cereal and palm savannas, gallery forests along rivers and reed marshes. The southeast of the country is occupied by the Amazonian selva, located in the region of a constantly humid equatorial climate. Lush impassable vegetation (five tiers of trees up to 70 m tall) and rich wildlife are very diverse. But due to harsh environmental conditions, only 1% of the country's population lives in this region.

6.New Zealand

The sparsely populated New Zealand is a haven for tourists. The country pays great attention to environmental protection. In terms of cleanliness index, it is much ahead of other countries in the region due to the quality of water and air. But industrial enterprises are making their dirty contribution with CO2 emissions.

The territory of the North Island in the east is covered with mountain ranges with heights up to 1400-1700 m. In its central part there is a volcanic plateau with the cones of active volcanoes - Ruapehu (2797 m) and others, geysers, mud volcanoes, hot springs and warm lakes. To the west of this plateau is the extinct volcano Egmont (2518 m). Frequent earthquakes, sometimes destructive. North of the volcanic plateau is a hilly lowland. There are narrow lowland stripes along the seashores in the south and in the central part of the island. Along the western coast of the South Island, from north to south, the mountain range of the Southern Alps stretches with 19 peaks above 3,000 m and many spurs-ridges. The highest point of the country is Mount Cook (3764 m). Ridges are characterized by alpine landforms (sharp peaks) and steep steep slopes. A narrow Canterbury plain stretches along the east coast of the South Island, from north to south. In the southeast of the island are the Southland lowland and the Otago mountain plateau, in the southwest are deep fjords (Fjordland National Park).

7.Japan

Life expectancy in Japan is about 82 years. This is the highest rate in the world. Partly due to the excellent water treatment technologies, sanitary conditions, the prevention of the use of chemical pesticides and the relatively low level of air pollution. The problem here is the depletion of fish stocks in coastal waters and, consequently, a decrease in marine biological diversity.

Japan (Jap. Nihon, Nippon), the official name is "Nihon Koku", "Nippon Koku", the archaic name "Yashima" (Jap. Yashima) is an island state in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan, China, North and South Korea and Russia, extends from the Sea of \u200b\u200bOkhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south of the country. The name of the country means "homeland of the sun," and that is why Japan is called the "country of the rising sun." Japan is an archipelago consisting of 6,852 islands. The four largest islands: Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku together account for 97% of the total area of \u200b\u200bthe archipelago. Most of the islands are mountainous, many are volcanic; for example, the highest point in Japan, Mount Fuji is a volcano. With a population of more than 127 million people, Japan is in tenth place in the world. Greater Tokyo, which includes the de facto capital of Japan, Tokyo and several nearby prefectures, with a population of more than 30 million people, is the largest metropolitan area in the world. As a great economic power, Japan ranks second in the world in terms of nominal GDP and third in terms of GDP, calculated at purchasing power parity. Japan is the fourth largest exporter and sixth largest importer.

Japan is a member of the G8 and APEC, as well as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Although Japan has officially abandoned its right to declare war, it supports a modern and extensive military force, which is used for self-defense and peacekeeping operations. Japan is a developed country with a very high standard of living (tenth in the human development index). Japan has the highest life expectancy in the world and one of the lowest infant mortality rates.

Japan remains the only country in the world against which nuclear weapons have been used.

8.Croatia

The Republic of Croatia is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the west and south it is washed by the Adriatic Sea. Consists of 4 historical areas: Lesser Croatia, Dalmatia, Slavonia, Istria. Area - 56,414 square meters km The territory of the country has a wedge-shaped configuration: one of the wedges formed by the rivers Mura, Drava and Danube in the north and p. Sava in the south, stretches east to Serbia; another wedge bounded by the Adriatic Sea and the western ridges of the Dinar Alps stretches south to Kotor Bay. Slavonia is a plain territory between the rivers Drava, Danube and Sava (part of the Central Danube Lowland). To the southwest of it is a mountain chain of limestone Dinar Alps, stretched along the coast of the Adriatic Sea: the highest point is Mount Tsinzar (2085 m). In Istria, flat terrain prevails. There are earthquakes. Coastline The Adriatic Sea is heavily indented. There are many rocky islands along the coast (there are 1,185 of them).

In Slavonia and Lesser Croatia, a temperate continental climate with warm summers (+ 20 ... + 23 ° С) and cool winters (-1 ... + 3 ° С); in Dalmatia and Istria there is a Mediterranean subtropical climate with warm, almost without rain in summer (+25 ° С) and mild, rainy winter (+8 ° С). In winter, the cold northeast wind of the Borax blows. In the Dinar Alps, the climate is mountainous, with moderately warm summers, moderately cold winters and heavy rainfall, which quickly go to the ground due to karst. In the east and north, 700-1000 mm of precipitation falls, on the Adriatic coast - 800-1500 mm of precipitation per year.

The main rivers are the Sava, Drava, Danube and Kupa. The largest lake is Vransko. In the northern part of the country, oak and linden forests predominate; in Slavonia - forest-steppes and steppes; on the Adriatic coast and islands - subtropical vegetation; in the mountains - oak-hornbeam, beech and pine forests. Cropland occupies 25% of the country's territory, pastures - 22%. The forests are inhabited by wolves, bears, deer, roe deer, wild boars, foxes, pheasants, wild ducks. National parks and reserves: Plitvice Lakes (16 karst lakes connected by waterfalls and the Korana River), Brijuni (islands with Mediterranean vegetation), Kornati (island group), Paklenica (rocky mountains), Velebit (mountains), Rysnyak (forest, wild fauna) and others. Croatia, with its developed tourism industry, prioritizes clean beaches. The country on the Adriatic demonstrates to its visitors a rich fish diversity. Nevertheless, the socialist past is having an effect: Soviet-era industry serves as a source of greenhouse gases.

9.Albania

The Republic of Albania (from Alb. Skiperia - the country of eagles) is located in southeastern Europe, in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula; stretched from north to south along the coast of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Area - 28 748 thousand square meters. km. The territory of the country is divided into two parts: low-lying, slightly hilly, located along the Adriatic coast; mountainous, covers north, east and south. Mountains occupy 70% of the territory. In the north are medium-altitude rocky limestone North Albanian Alps, which are dissected by deep canyon-like valleys of the mountain river. Drin and its tributaries. In the east there are more smoothed mountain ranges (with the highest peak in the country Golem Korabit - 2764 m). From east to west they are cut through by the deep valleys of the Black Drin, Mati, Shkumbini, Devoli rivers. In the south there are low (from 600 to 2000 m) mountains, which then go into the Pindus mountains in Northern Greece. The western coastal lowland is wide. 15-40 km (swampy in places), bordered by sea lagoons. The Kerkyra Strait in the south separates Albania from the Ionian Islands, and the Otranto Strait - from the Apennine Peninsula. The territory of Albania is seismic. The most powerful earthquakes occurred in 1372, 1905.1926.19960, 1979. The climate of the coastal part of the country is subtropical Mediterranean, with warm and humid winters (average January temperature from +4 in the north to +7 ° C in the south), hot and arid summers (average July temperature from +25 ° C in the north to +28 ° C in the south, sometimes reaches +38 ° C); Precipitation (1100-1800 mm per year) occurs mainly in late autumn and winter. The climate of the inner mountainous part of Albania is temperate continental with cold winters (frosts reach -15 ... -20 ° С), more humid and not so hot in summers (up to 2500 mm of precipitation per year). The southwestern part of the country suffers from drought in the summer.

Albania, like its Eastern European neighbors, does not belong to the category of countries with impeccable ecology. But since the country's industry has never worked at full capacity (GDP per capita is only $ 6,000) and the country has not undergone total industrialization, Albania produces some greenhouse gases. However, the propensity to use stove heating allows you to assign Albania 47.7 points on the index of domestic air pollution.

10 Israel

Israel, officially the state of Israel is a state in southwest Asia, off the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. In the north it borders with Lebanon, in the northeast - with Syria, in the east - with Jordan and the West Bank, in the south-west - with Egypt and the Gaza Strip. It was proclaimed on May 14, 1948 on the basis of the resolution of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) No. 181, adopted on November 29, 1947 (see "UN Plan for the Partition of Palestine"). According to the Declaration of Independence, Israel is a Jewish state. At the same time, Israel is a multinational and democratic state, where, along with Jews, all other religious and ethnic groups have equal rights: Muslim Arabs, Christian Arabs, Druze, Bedouins, Samaritans , Circassians, etc. In particular, Druze and Bedouin deputies, Arab parties and deputies are represented in the Knesset.

7.2 million people in Israel enjoy the quality of water and air, competing in this with the cleanest countries in Europe. Life expectancy here is 81 years. Despite the droughts, Israel has a competent policy regarding its small forests. The country's scourge is pesticides that affect food.

In recent decades, significant environmental changes have been observed in the world, which partially contradict each other. For example, an increasing number of the world's population gets access to drinking water, quality food, environmental organizations are developing, but at the same time, the reverse process is also observed - air pollution is increasing, and the area of \u200b\u200bforests is decreasing.

More than half of the world's population lives in adverse environmental conditions. Ecology is normal either in rich countries or in very poor countries (however, few people will want to live in the latter).

Based on the collected data, UN organizations compiled a list of the most environmentally friendly foreign countries.

As of 2019, Russia occupies only 32nd place out of 180 in it, but, unfortunately, the situation in the country does not change for the better, and there is a risk of a decrease in the environmental performance index.

Relatively recently gained full independence (originally belonged to Sweden, and later the Russian Empire).
During their independent existence, the Finns were able to raise the level of industry and life in their country to one of the highest in the world. But despite this, the nature of the country practically did not suffer and retained its diversity.

In Finland, there are certain plans to expand cities in order to cause minimal harm to the environment. For example, the modern quarters of Finnish cities are densely spaced mid-rise buildings, where parking is moved underground, and the area between the buildings is a public space: courtyards, playgrounds, bicycle parking lots and several roads for cars to travel.

They try to place part of public spaces on roofs or cascades (terraces) of houses. The modern architecture of some quarters does not at all provide for courtyards, only narrow streets for moving between buildings.

Despite the fact that Finland is a relatively small country in terms of territory - its nature and landscape may show some diversity. In the northern part of the country there are not so many coniferous forests, but there are picturesque mountains and hills with their own fauna. If you move south, coniferous forests, lakes and even birch groves will increasingly appear. This region also has its own fauna.

The Finnish government and environmental organizations of the country care about the environment, so you can relax in nature only in strictly designated places for this or get special permission. The same goes for hunting and fishing.

City officials carefully monitor the cleanliness of cities. Buildings are specially fenced so that debris is not accidentally carried away by the wind outside the construction site. Garbage recycling is encouraged in various ways - special terminals are installed in supermarkets and retail outlets for receiving bottles and plastic containers in exchange for receiving cash rewards or discounts at this point.

The population can receive an impressive fine if they throw garbage on the street, and not in specially designated places. And also all garbage from residential buildings and other institutions must be put up for further processing. In the country, alternative energy sources are beginning to be used more and more actively - solar energy, wind energy and hydropower.

Citizens of the state have access to one of the best education and medicine systems in Europe, and also receive fairly high salaries for a decent life. However, the country has very high taxes.

Iceland is a sparsely populated country

In terms of environmental performance, it is almost identical to Finland, but at the same time it is only in second place in the rating. The country's population is a little more than 320 thousand people, but this does not prevent the state from maintaining a high standard of living and being an important economic partner in the European Union.

The name of the state and the island on which it is located is translated as "Land of Ice". The island is indeed one of the northernmost areas with a permanent population, competing with Greenland and some islands of the Arctic Ocean.

There are not so many natural resources on the territory of Iceland (the lack of forests is especially strong), and the island’s climate is not very suitable for efficient agriculture.

However, local residents found a way out of this situation - coal was originally used for heating houses, now it was replaced by thermal springs.

The food problem is being addressed through the development of fisheries, greenhouses and livestock farming, and the missing products are imported from the European Union at low prices.

The weather conditions of the island are atypical for the Arctic territories and are somewhat reminiscent of the climate of St. Petersburg or London. Summer is relatively warm (average temperature is about 15 degrees), it often rains and fogs form, sunny weather is relatively rare. In winter, the temperature rarely drops below 25 degrees below zero, frequent cloudiness and snowfall. And also in some areas of the island there is an Arctic night, during which you can freely observe the northern lights.

This climatic anomaly is due to the fact that the island is on the path of the warm Gulf Stream, so that it is still not completely covered with ice. But also a small merit in the formation of the climate of this territory belongs to both thermal springs and volcanic activity, which occurred earlier in this place.

The nature and fauna of the island is mostly typical of the Arctic territories. Often you can find various dwarf plants and moss, which densely covers the rocks, various structures and plants. There are full mixed and coniferous forests on the island, which occupy about ¼ of its part.

At the moment, the state is actively promoting nature care, as well as foreign migration.

Sweden and Denmark

These two states also have good ecology, but its condition in Sweden is somewhat better than in Denmark. Sweden is somewhat similar to Finland in terms of lifestyle, climate, economy and territory. However, there are twice as many inhabitants.

Provided that it has a territory similar to Finland, both in scope and in the availability of natural resources, it is quite difficult for it to hold the first place in the rating, since the population needs to be somehow maintained, therefore the country takes only the third place in the world the list.

In Sweden, recycling is also encouraged in various ways. Hunting and fishing in the country is allowed only in strictly designated areas and in certain volumes. In the north of the country are picturesque mountains and hills, and to the south are coniferous and mixed forests.

Several large and small lakes are scattered throughout the country, the protection of which is strictly monitored by the state. The flora of this power is very diverse, in addition, there are some species that were once imported from North America and took root well on its territory.

As for the country takes the 4th place in the world ranking of the most environmentally friendly states. In a 6 millionth country, there is a serious shortage of land for agriculture and the needs of the population, but despite this, the living standards of the Danes are one of the most significant in the world and Europe. In order to maintain a balance between a high standard of living and environmentally friendly, the state adopted special bills that partially contradict the interests of the local population.

For example, the most controversial bill in this country to protect the environment is the introduction of various additional taxes when buying and using personal vehicles. Buying a car in Denmark will be very expensive.

In addition to the price declared by the car manufacturer, the buyer is obliged to pay the extra charge of the car dealership, which can reach up to 50% of the initial cost, as well as a special tax, it will be 100% of the initial amount and the seller’s extra charge. As a result, buying a car in Denmark will be 2 times more expensive than in Russia and 3.5 times more than in Germany or Japan.

At one time, bypassing this law, those who wanted to buy personal vehicles went to Germany, and later imported cars into the country, but recently it’s practically impossible to transport a car bought in neighboring countries through customs without special papers. In addition, car owners must buy diesel or gasoline, which is also not cheap, which makes owning personal vehicles a privilege of the rich.

Fortunately, the country has a sufficiently developed bicycle mode of transportation; cities are more adapted for pedestrians and cyclists. Public and intercity transport is also one of the best in Europe. In addition, the development of infrastructure and the sale of electric vehicles are actively encouraged.

In recent years, special attention has been paid to the environment, climate, global warming and waste management. An increase in production, industrialization of even the poorest countries, an increase in the amount of waste, all this negatively affects the environment. But in many countries, ecology is taken care of as closely as the industrial sector. Below are the countries that were recognized as the most environmentally friendly in 2015.

Austria

The country traditionally occupies high positions in the rating of environmental friendliness due to the small number of industries and a large number of clean natural zones.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is essentially a nature reserve country, more than 25% of the country's area is a protected natural area. Costa Rica has the largest number of nature reserves and parks, which are protected and provided with proper care. A huge number of forests and trees in cities make Costa Rica one of the cleanest countries in the world.

Switzerland

Who did not see images of pure Swiss meadows and mountains. The Swiss government is closely monitoring the ecology of its country, most of the country's budget is the cost of environmental care. As in other European countries, Switzerland provides all kinds of discounts, subsidies, payments for the rejection of nature-polluting devices (cars, heating, waste disposal).

Australia

The greenest mainland, on which the area of \u200b\u200bnational natural parks exceeds the area of \u200b\u200bresidential cities. Environmental protection in Australia is strictly regulated by law.

Germany

Despite the fact that Germany is one of the most industrialized countries in the world, the Germans pay no less attention to the ecology of their country. There are many industries in Germany, but there are also many factories for the processing of garbage and waste, and for the purification of water and soil. At the state level, emission standards for harmful substances are laid down both at the industrial and civil levels. Many Germans use solar energy, drive electric cars and carefully sort their garbage.

Italy

In Italy, the situation is about the same as in Germany. There are not many nature reserves and parks in the country, but the government carefully monitors environmental pollution, harmful emissions from production and waste processing.

Sweden

Forest occupies 50% of the country's land. This is one of the highest rates in Europe (together with Norway and Finland). Sweden seeks to switch to fuel-free heating of houses and other facilities by 2020.

Norway

In Norway, significant penalties are imposed for any environmental pollution, and all Norwegians have been accustomed from childhood to monitor cleanliness and the environment. In addition, a large area of \u200b\u200bthe country is occupied by forests and lakes.

New Zealand

According to the plan of the Government of New Zealand, the country is striving to take first place in the environmental ranking by 2020. New Zealand is one of the greenest countries in the world.

Finland

Finland has the cleanest tap water in the world, but, unfortunately, some production processes adversely affect the environment, and this year Finland left the top five. Although the environmental standards in the country are still high.