Literally every scientist worth their salt is basically screaming at us nowadays to help save the planet. The ice caps are melting, the bees are dying, and Greta Thunberg is minutes away from getting us all beaten up for being dicks to the Earth. India, with its terrible Environmental Performance Index (EPI), could stand to learn a few things from other countries.
1. Scotland closed its last coal plant a few years ago, and Vietnam also cancelled its coal ventures.
Considering how much carbon emissions contribute to global warming, this came as a welcome move to many environmental activists.
2. Maryland, USA banned a pesticide that was killing bees.
In the last few years, the bee disease Colony Collapse Disorder has wiped out 10 million beehives in the US alone.
3. Finland aims to achieve a carbon-neutral society by 2050. This means not releasing any carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
It’s not just a government policy on paper either, as businesses are also rising to the challenge of achieving this tough goal.
4. Morocco, Kenya, and Rwanda have completely banned plastic bags.
While New Delhi has banned all plastic, the rest of India still has to follow through. Tamil Nadu also plans to ban plastic from this year.
5. Norway was the world’s first country to ban deforestation.
Norwegian lawmakers no longer award any government contracts to companies that take part in clear-cutting of trees.
6. Denmark gets almost 40% of its energy from wind turbines.
7. Sweden constructed passive houses, which are low-energy residences that can power themselves.
They power themselves using heat energy from human activities, electric appliances, and sunlight. An example of a passive building is the geothermal system in place at Stockholm’s Central Station which captures body heat from over 250,000 daily commuters.
8. Malta adopted the Sustainable Development Act, which switched its primary source of energy from heavy fuel oil to natural gas.
Now, 70% of Malta’s energy is obtained from natural gas and the rest is from renewable sources.
9. In 2014, Denmark introduced a campaign to encourage their citizens to use bicycles more often.
They also focused on modernising public transport by cleaning up buses and railway systems.
10. In 2017, Ireland invested in a national waste programme that helped farmers reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through technological advancements.
Ireland also constantly monitors the quality of their lakes, rivers and waterways. Their quality of water is among the best in Europe.
11. Spain provides incentives for car buyers to opt for electric vehicles. They’ve also cut energy use by installing motion sensor tech in hotels.
*Gets angry at pollution – Breathes deeply – Chokes – Gets angry again*
