Top five greenest countries in the world

Switzerland

What are the first things that come to mind when thinking of Switzerland? If it's huge lakes, impressive mountains, lush green nature, and fresh air, and you're absolutely right! Switzerland has undertaken a series of environment-friendly measures to preserve its postcard looks. No wonder it comes up as the world's greenest country, with its emphasis on enhancing the quality of life of its inhabitants. In recent years, the Federal Council of Switzerland has been setting up innovative environment-friendly policies such as the preservation of its natural resources via the use of renewable energy, recycling of waste and raw materials, not to mention the concentration of urbanisation through more efficient use of available lands. The struggle against global warming through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and preservation of water resources also figure among its top priorities. In fact, Switzerland has been nicknamed Europe's Water Tower due to the presence of many streams and lakes, some of which are supported by a number of water treatment plants. The country and its population also value the rich biodiversity including over 50,000 species of fauna and flora. All these measures will allow you to enjoy an unparalleled quality of life and discover so much more of Switzerland during your stay.

France

Thanks to its significant efforts regarding environment preservation, France now ranks second worldwide. It's worth noting that greenhouse gas emissions dropped by 12% from 1990 to 2012. While much of this progress is linked to the drastic slowdown of manufacturing and construction industries, the French government has also been making massive investments in improving the quality of life of residents in France. A 80% increase in selective collection of waste since 2000, a 10% drop in heating consumption via the improvement of the energy efficiency of buildings, and a considerable increase in the budget granted to preserving the environment are some of the measures taken. Regarding energy consumption, some 15% are now provided by renewable sources. Moreover, today cycling has become one of the most convenient means of travelling around, with more and more French cities being equipped with bikeways, with the aim of reducing pollution from trafic congestion and creating a new generation of environment-conscious citizens.

Denmark

Third on the list, Denmark has been one of the greenest European countries for many years. Recently, Denmark has challenged itself to put an end to coal combustion by 2025 as part of its ongoing environment-friendly policies. The country has also made significant efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% through the setting up of wind farms. These wind farms are expected to produce more than half of the total electricity consumption by 2020. Also, the Danish Commission on Climate Change Policy strongly recommends the use of solar energy for heating buildings. Did you know that the world's largest solar thermal power plant is found in Denmark? Like the government, Danish citizens are also very environment-conscious as evidenced by the use of cycles to travel around. Today, 41% of Danes prefer to cycle to work or to school, which is quite impressive, especially given the freezing temperatures in the winter over there. If you're looking for a modern yet eco-friendly lifestyle along with a good quality of life, Denmark is definitely the place to be.

Malta

Despite being the smallest European Union country, Malta ranks fourth thanks to its praise-worthy environment-friendly policies. Threatened by rapid urban expansion and high pollution rates due to its demographic and traffic density, Malta managed to take over the situation. In recent years, sensitisation campaigns have been launched to make the population aware of environmental risks including climate change, salinisation, soil erosion, over-exploitation of natural resources, and sea pollution. Maltese people have thus come to adopt an environment-friendly lifestyle by the use of renewable energy and recycling. Tourists are also expected to act responsibly in line with government efforts and policies. In June 2016, for instance, a tourist tax known as the environmental contribution was introduced. Gozo, for its part, benefited from a sustainable development program encouraging not only waste management but also better control of energy and water which is now a rare resource in Malta. Moving to Malta can hence be an extraordinary experience, not only due to its environment-friendly efforts but also thanks to its breathtaking scenery and rich historical and cultural heritage.

Sweden

Sweden is a country that needs no introduction concerning environment preservation. No wonder this Scandinavian country with some 9.5 million inhabitants and world famous for its unparalleled quality of life comes up on the list, despite the fact that Sweden has always chosen to keep a low profile, especially when it comes to its economy, culture or environment. Did you know that Sweden is one of the countries with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions in the world since 2006, although the energy consumption by capita is quite high. Over the past years, Sweden has introduced a range of environment-friendly measures such as the elimination of fossil for heating buildings, like Denmark, the use of at least 50% of renewable energy by 2020, not to mention massive investments in solar and wind energies via public-private cooperation. You may be surprised to learn that industries in Sweden are mainly driven by firms specialising in green economy and high technology. The country has also committed to reaching carbon neutrality in years to come. Gothenburg, the second biggest city in Sweden, recently introduced a silent and zero pollution bus line powered by wind and hydro energy. Meanwhile, Stockholm launched a smart city program aiming at setting up an efficient waste management system and a shared travel planning system throughout the city.