How These 5 Countries Are Protecting Their Environments
By Cora Gold
Environmental protection may not be foremost in your mind every day. Still, it dominates the global agenda, with many countries making significant contributions to reversing ecological damage and limiting their contributions to global warming and climate change. If countries can refocus and discover that going green is also financially rewarding, what changes can you make to reduce your carbon footprint?
Take a leaf from these nations and their unique approaches to protecting the environment>>>
1. New Zealand
The government of New Zealand is implementing a comprehensive plan to address the issues of invasive plants and pests that threaten biodiversity. The country’s unique, culturally sensitive approach reflects its dynamic population and close relationship with nature.
In the world’s first ruling of its kind, New Zealand’s parliament also passed a law recognizing the Whanganui River as a legal person, committing to its restoration and protection with a $80 million settlement for reparations.
New Zealand uses several methods to conserve its ecological resources.
> Reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2050: New Zealand aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 2050 through progressively increasing emission budgets. The goal is to preserve the natural environment by ending the reliance on fossil fuels.
> National adaptation plan: By protecting coastal and inland ecosystems, the government mitigates climate change by restoring natural spaces as a buffer. Negative land use is one area that receives a lot of attention.
> Focus on building resilience: Support cultural buildings and villages against climate change and severe weather, which also maintains the natural world.
2. Costa Rica
Beautiful Costa Rica is a popular tourist destination. The country is also passionate about preserving natural diversity, with 29 national parks protecting 5% of the world’s biodiversity.
Relying on sustainable energy production, the country generates 98% of its energy resources through environmentally friendly means. At the same time, it has also replanted thousands of acres of natural forests to double the coverage of the 25% remaining forests of the 1990s.
Costa Rica engages in environmental protection by:
> Decarbonizing transportation by introducing electric trains.
> Offering tax incentives to companies encouraging their employees to use bicycles instead of cars.
> Making forests more profitable than farmland.
3. Denmark
Denmark has long been regarded as one of the countries with the cleanest air. With several strategically placed monitoring stations, the government ensures this remains the case while striving to reach a carbon-neutral 2050 goal.
Denmark now generates 50% of its electrical requirements from offshore wind farms as part of its zero-emissions programs. Reducing its reliance on crude oil reduces pollution and environmental damage.
Denmark preserves its ecology by:
> Encouraging the use of bicycles instead of fuel-driven cars, many of the population and tourists rely on this form of transportation. The city center of Copenhagen has more bicycles than cars.
> Sustaining five national biodiverse parks.
> Supporting green shipping with the world’s largest shipping company, Maersk, launching its first carbon-neutral vessel in 2023.
4. Norway
Dynamic Norway invests in several environmentally minded initiatives through recycling and reducing reliance on raw materials. The country implemented an initiative to export waste products, such as dated electronics, to prevent non-recyclable items from accumulating in landfills.
Norway conserves its natural beauty by:
> Creating laws to ensure every citizen can enjoy a healthy environment.
> Investing in clean energy technology — 99% of Norway’s power comes from hydroelectric facilities.
> Recycling 97% of all plastic water bottles and 60% of plastic waste.
5. Singapore
Rising sea levels prompted Singapore to pursue coastal protection. The country is investing in a coastal-inland flood model that includes natural mangrove forests, which can reduce water ingress and contribute to carbon absorption to assist with decarbonization efforts. Singapore is also transforming into a “city in nature” by expanding its park network.
Singapore protects its natural world with measures like:
> Increasing recycling rates to reduce waste sent to landfills by 20% by 2026.
> Charging a fee for plastic shopping bags to discourage the public from using single-use plastics that end up in landfills, where waste increases harmful methane emissions.
> Preserving four nature reserves and 20 more protected areas with wildlife rehabilitation and conservation initiatives.
How Can You Help?
When planning your next vacation, consider how a small country with limited resources can increase nature parks by fighting deforestation and carbon emissions. You can also help the environment with a few personal choices like avoiding single-use plastics, recycling, composting, and supporting green-store initiatives.
About the author: Cora Gold is a sustainability writer who aims to live a healthy, low-waste lifestyle. Read more from Cora in Revivalist magazine, LinkedIn and Twitter.