China, India Among Worst Environmental Performers

Jan. 24, 2008
U.S. ranked 39th place, due to poor scores on air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

European countries and some Latin American nations topped an environmental scorecard released Jan. 23 in Davos, way ahead of the U.S. States and emerging economies like China and India. The scorecard ranked 149 countries according to their success in meeting broadly-accepted targets in such policy categories as environmental health, air pollution and water resources. Switzerland, host of the annual World Economic Forum gathering, led the list of top environmental performers compiled by experts at Yale and Columbia Universities.

Three northern European countries -- Sweden, Norway and Finland -- came next, followed by Costa Rica. Another Latin American state, Colombia, was ranked ninth -- just ahead of France.

While acknowledging that wealth was a major determinant, the study highlighted the disparity in ranking between Costa Rica (5th) and neighboring Nicaragua (77th) as a demonstration that "policy choices also affect performance."

It also stressed the lowly ranking of the U.S., which wound up in 39th place, significantly behind other industrialized countries like Britain (14th) and Japan (21st). "Poor scores on air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions dragged down the overall U.S. rank," it said.

The environmental cost of soaring economic growth in Asian giants China and India were reflected in their lowly rankings. China placed 105th with Indian even further back in 120th position.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2008

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Beware Extreme Software

Sept. 24, 2023
As a manufacturer, you understand the importance of staying ahead of the curve and being proactive in your approach to technology. With the rapid pace of change in the industry...

How Digital Twin Technology is Empowering Manufacturers

Sept. 27, 2023
This FAQ delves into why this technology offers business value and considerations toward implementation.

Turning Your Frontline Workforce into a Competitive Advantage: A Comprehensive Guide

Sept. 19, 2023
In this guide, we'll explore how manufacturers are using digital technologies to preserve the bottom line and maintain growth by enabling and empowering their #1 asset - their...

Why DataOps may be the key to unlocking the full potential of digital transformation

Nov. 3, 2023
Read the 2023 market survey conducted by IndustryWeek

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!