{"id":10874,"date":"2019-08-15T19:49:10","date_gmt":"2019-08-15T19:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/?p=10874"},"modified":"2019-08-15T19:49:10","modified_gmt":"2019-08-15T19:49:10","slug":"top-countries-environmental-policymaking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/top-countries-environmental-policymaking\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Countries Making Strides in Environmental Policymaking"},"content":{"rendered":"

In October 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a landmark<\/span> report<\/span><\/a> detailing the dangers of a global <\/span>1.5 \u00b0C<\/span> temperature rise from pre-industrial levels. These include increased occurrence of natural disasters, forced human migration, and loss of ecosystems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t great news, obviously, and it\u2019s easy to feel anxious in the face of global warming. However, anxiety is conducive to action: all over the world, policymakers are pooling their resources to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and save our planet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Eight countries in particular are making huge waves in environmental policymaking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

European countries top the list, implementing incredible programs like <\/span>Natura2000<\/span><\/a> (a conservation organization that protects 18 percent of the EU\u2019s land area, and 9.5 percent of its marine territory) and the <\/span>Circular Economy Action Plan<\/span><\/a> (adopted in 2015), which emphasizes the need to push towards a life-cycle-driven economy (in which resources are reused as much as possible and residual waste is brought close to zero).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But there are plenty more exciting initiatives for eco-enthusiasts to gush over \u2014\u00a0let\u2019s look at some of the legislation we hope other key countries around the world adopt in the very near future.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

\"Green
One of many eco-friendly designs one sees while traversing Norway. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n

Norway<\/b><\/h2>\n

Per usual, our Scandinavian overlords top the list. Ranked No.1 on <\/span>The Good Country<\/span><\/a> index, Norway is a global leader in environmental protection. More than 80 percent of Norway\u2019s domestic emissions are subject to a mandatory CO2 tax, and the country has a target to reduce GHG emissions by <\/span>30 percent<\/span><\/a> by next year. <\/span><\/p>\n

Norway has also <\/span>pledged<\/span><\/a> up to 3 billion Norwegian Krones per year to help \u201csave the world\u2019s tropical forests while improving the livelihoods of those who live off, in, and near the forests.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Because it\u2019s such a leader when it comes to the environment, Norway has partnered with other European countries to lead by example (see: Romania and Portugal below).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

\"A
Middelgrunden, one of 10 Danish wind farms in the Baltic Sea. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Denmark<\/b><\/h2>\n

Denmark has ambitiously <\/span>committed<\/span><\/a> to a fossil-fuel-free, 100-percent renewable energy future by 2050. <\/span>Agriculture is big business in Denmark, and it indirectly helps provide energy too, with manure, animal fats, and straw used as the basis for biogas and liquid biofuels. <\/span>More than two-thirds<\/a> of Denmark’s renewable energy comes from <\/span>bioenergy<\/span>, and many Danish power plants are switching from fossil fuels to wood pellets, wood chips, or straw.<\/span><\/p>\n

Denmark is also particularly environmentally conscious when it comes to construction. The Danish government implemented a revolutionary <\/span>building code<\/span><\/a>, banning new installation of oil boilers in all houses\u2014while simultaneously encouraging biomass, biogas and solar thermal appliances. <\/span><\/p>\n

Denmark is setting the course for sustainability in the <\/span>shipping<\/span><\/a> sector as well. Maersk Group, the world\u2019s largest container shipping company and one of the largest companies in Denmark, has prioritized addressing the CO2 impact of shipping (which is expected to grow up to 250 percent by 2050, according to the International Maritime Organisation).<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s just throw in one more ridiculous project that Denmark  is undertaking: a giant offshore <\/span>wind farm<\/span><\/a> in the Baltic Sea. The farm is expected to power 600,000 households when construction completes in 2022. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

\"Solar
A typical residential solar installation found in Germany.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Germany<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Germany has plans to become climate-neutral by mid-century thanks to Energiewende, the country\u2019s transition to nuclear and fossil-fuel-free energy. <\/span>At the beginning of 2011, there were 17 nuclear power plants in operation in Germany. By 2022, the <\/span>last will have closed<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Germany is also green-conscious when it comes to design, creating the Ecodesign Directive (ErP)<\/a> to regulate products with the worst environmental performance. The initiative is expected to reduce power consumption in the EU by 12 percent by 2020. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The country is quite picky when it comes to <\/span>recycling<\/span><\/a>, too. It\u2019s not uncommon to get dirty looks from neighbors for not sorting through trash. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To better understand Germany’s progress in the renewable energy sector, I suggest reading this list<\/a> of 10 things Germany is doing to protect the environment and this guide<\/a> to Germany\u2019s Energiewende program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Inside
A hydroelectric plant in G\u00f6schenen, Uri, Switzerland.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Switzerland<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like Germany, Switzerland is amid a nuclear energy phase-out of their own. The Energy Strategy 2050<\/a>, implemented after the Fukushima reactor disaster in 2011, mandates that all Swiss nuclear plants must be shut down\u2014not replaced\u2014at the end of their safe operating life.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what are the Swiss using to power their country? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hydropower accounts for <\/span>60 percent<\/span><\/a> of domestic electricity production. The <\/span>Hydraulic Constructions Laboratory<\/span><\/a> (LCH) in Lausanne is looking to hone and optimize hydropower facilities.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Stunning
Stunning views of Romania’s Rodnei Mountains in Maramures countryside, just one of many reasons the country has to preserve its environment. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Romania <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Romania has partnered with good old Norway to create the <\/span>Energy Program<\/span><\/a>. The \u20ac62-million project aims to increase renewable energy production; reduce CO2 emissions; and enhance research on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy security. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch the video below for more information:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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