In order to collect expert opinions on the best way to protect the planet, I went to Yale University’s Environmental Performance Index. Once there, I found the top three highest performers (Sweden, France, and Denmark in descending order according to rank), then proceeded to research their environmental policies. https://epi.envirocenter.yale.edu/epi-topline?country&order=field_epi_rank_new&sort=asc
Sweden is a country defined by its beautiful landscapes, and it makes great strides to ensure that their natural resources are preserved. According to the House of Switzerland website, the European nation makes the preservation of natural resources a priority. In order to combat population growth, rising consumption, and economic development, Switzerland encourages its citizens to utilize sustainable practices in their everyday lives. This includes the use of renewable energy sources, as well as policies aimed at reducing waste while increasing recycling rates. The Spatial Planning Act, which is intended to promote high density urban planning and reduce building expansion, was passed in 2013. Additionally, Switzerland has devoted itself to preserving the quality of its air, water, and soil, contributing to the global fight against climate change, and maintaining biodiversity within its borders. https://houseofswitzerland.org/swissstories/environment/key-aspects-environmental-protection-switzerland
France’s main objective is to take an aggressive stance against CO2 emissions; the nation hopes to reduce its production of greenhouse gases 75% by 2050, which will be a massive undertaking. They also cited tackling water and air pollution, reducing waste levels, and preserving biodiversity as priorities. https://ideas.repec.org/p/ces/ceswps/_3887.html
Denmark has a “very strong climate policy”. It boasts impressive numbers in renewable energy consumption (23%, moving towards 50%), and places restrictions on water usage. The country is also in the process of phasing out fossil fuels with plans to operate 100% sustainably by 2050. Finally, Denmark has been been cited as first in the world in terms of health, as well as water and sanitation. https://www.sgi-network.org/2016/Denmark/Environmental_Policies
All of these highly rated nations seem to focus upon reducing waste product, fossil fuel use, and C02 emissions, and conservation of resources and biodiversity. It should be noted, however, that there exists a faction of the world leaders that have been uncooperative in trying to create a more sustainable future. Namely, the U.S., China, Russia and certain parts of the Middle East and Africa. The fact that at least three global superpowers have failed to pass effective environmental policies means that our planet is currently using its resources at a much faster pace than it can replenish them. This paints a bleak picture of the not-so-distant future, but new technologies may be able to provide us some respite. https://epi.envirocenter.yale.edu/epi-topline?country&order=field_epi_rank_new&sort=asc
For example, Liuzhou Municipality Urban Planning Bureau recently commissioned “The Forest City”. According to the website of Stefano Boeri Architetti, the archaeologist hired for the project:
“The development of urban and architectural models of environmental regeneration, demineralization of the soil and increase of biodiversity has led to the conception of a new generation city, able to become a model of sustainable growth at a global level, starting from China.”
This is very exciting, as it would allow China, one of our planet’s biggest sources of pollution, to make massive strides towards sustainability. The project also represents a change in our very housing structure that could potentially revolutionize the way we live. https://www.stefanoboeriarchitetti.net/en/project/liuzhou-forest-city/
Other interesting projects include the B-Droid, intended to replace bees as pollinators, the Groasis Waterboxx, which makes growing crops in the desert possible, and AirCarbon, a sustainable, cost-efficient plastic. Unfortunately, most of these projects are still in their infancy, so it will likely be quite some time until they are available for mass production. https://interestingengineering.com/21-sustainability-innovations-and-initiatives-that-might-just-change-the-world
Vietnam, like many developing nations, faces a number of environmental challenges. Some of its more serious struggles are waste treatment, water and air pollution, and deforestation. In general, the country’s rapid urbanization and economic growth have created massive amounts of pollution and environmental damage. Food security is also a major concern. Marine pollution has resulted in loss of fishing yields, and climate change will soon begin affecting rice production. Additionally, Agent Orange, the chemical weapon used by the U.S. in the Second Indochina War, had a lasting effect on Vietnam’s environment, and, by extension, it’s citizens. Since the war, there have been an increased number of diseases and birth defects. The water situation in the country also leaves something to be desired. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/vietnam/enviro.htm
According to The Water Project, only 39% percent of Vietnam’s rurally-based citizens have access to clean drinking water. Industrialization has produced pollution in the river water, increasing its toxicity. This extends to sanitation and plumbing as well. The water situation in Vietnam has improved in the last few decades, and it seems that the green movement is starting to spread throughout the nation. https://thewaterproject.org/water-crisis/water-in-crisis-vietnam
For instance, Greenpeace Southeast Asia is active in Vietnam, although not much information could be found about their specific activities in the region, other than this article: https://www.greenpeace.org/southeastasia/press/652/coal-expansion-in-vietnam-could-claim-25000-lives-per-year/.
In the article, they discuss Vietnam’s coal mining, and condemn the environmental implications, as well as the annual deaths due to the mine’s dangerous conditions (apprx. 4,300/yr). In another article from Greenpeace New Zealand, the website mentions that Vietnam had officially shut down its coal mines about a year after the initial article was written: https://www.greenpeace.org/archive-new-zealand/en/blog/vietnam-ditches-coalmeanwhile-in-nz-were-appl/blog/55429/
Vietnam is also a member of the IUCN, or International Union for Conservation of Nature. The organization is currently focused on funding local NGO’s, improving environmental reporting, and engaging with businesses to improve sustainability. https://www.iucn.org/asia/countries/viet-nam
Finally, Vietnamese citizens are beginning to enter the realm of environmental activism. After a steel plant being built by a subsidiary of Formosa Plastic Group contaminated the water along a 200 km stretch of coastline, killing a massive amount of fish and derailing Vietnam’s fishing industry, over 10,000 citizens came together to march on the factory. The event was in protest of the relatively small pay-out from the corporation, which had agreed to shell out $500,000 in compensation for lost wages. https://thediplomat.com/2016/10/vietnams-growing-environmental-activism/
Works Cited
“2018 EPI Results.” 2018 EPI Results | Environmental Performance Index, epi.envirocenter.yale.edu/epi-topline?country&order=field_epi_rank_new&sort=asc.
Egert, Balazs. “France’s Environmental Policies: Internalising Global and Local Externalities, by Balazs Egert.” CESifo Working Paper Series, CESifo Group Munich, 1 Jan. 1970, ideas.repec.org/p/ces/ceswps/_3887.html.
Greenpeace Southeast Asia. “Coal Expansion in Vietnam Could Claim 25,000 Lives per Year.” Greenpeace Southeast Asia, http://www.greenpeace.org/southeastasia/press/652/coal-expansion-in-vietnam-could-claim-25000-lives-per-year/.
Kerrigan, Saoirse. “21 Sustainability Innovations and Initiatives That Might Just Change the World.” Interesting Engineering, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sept. 2019, interestingengineering.com/21-sustainability-innovations-and-initiatives-that-might-just-change-the-world.
“Key Aspects of Environmental Protection in Switzerland.” House of Switzerland, 18 Apr. 2019, houseofswitzerland.org/swissstories/environment/key-aspects-environmental-protection-switzerland.
Pike, John. “Military.” Vietnam – Environment, http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/vietnam/enviro.htm.
Sands, Gary. “Vietnam’s Growing Environmental Activism.” – The Diplomat, For The Diplomat, 29 Oct. 2016, thediplomat.com/2016/10/vietnams-growing-environmental-activism/.
Stiftung, Bertelsmann. “Denmark.” SGI 2016 | Denmark | Environmental Policies, http://www.sgi-network.org/2016/Denmark/Environmental_Policies.
“Viet Nam.” IUCN, 8 Nov. 2018, http://www.iucn.org/asia/countries/viet-nam.
“Vietnam Ditches Coal…meanwhile in NZ, We’re Applying for More Mines.” GREENPEACE New Zealand, http://www.greenpeace.org/archive-new-zealand/en/blog/vietnam-ditches-coalmeanwhile-in-nz-were-appl/blog/55429/.
“Water In Crisis – Spotlight Vietnam.” The Water Project, thewaterproject.org/water-crisis/water-in-crisis-vietnam.“Liuzhou Forest City.” Stefano Boeri Architetti, 30 Jan. 2018, http://www.stefanoboeriarchitetti.net/en/project/liuzhou-forest-city/.
Globalization: Asia 