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Discover which countries are leading the way in terms of green progress

Source: Unsplash

The 2021 edition of MIT’s Green Future Index ranks 76 countries around the world according to their environmental commitment based on five key points — where is your country in the rankings?

The Green Future Index 2021 ranks countries on green commitment

According to the the 2021 edition of the Green Future Index, the greenest countries in the world in terms of commitment are Iceland, Denmark, Norway and France. With Iceland aiming for carbon neutrality by 2040, both Denmark and Norway moving away from fossil fuels, and France’s huge investment in the development of the hydrogen industry, Europe is making headway as a potential future leader in environmental issues — however, even the Top 10 leading countries in terms of commitment are still only scoring little more than half of the available points awarded.

It measures the degree to which their economies are pivoting toward clean energy, industry, agriculture, and society through investment in renewables, innovation, and green finance.
The Green Future Index is a ranking of 76 leading countries and territories on their progress and commitment toward building a low carbon future. It measures the degree to which their economies are pivoting toward clean energy, industry, agriculture, and society through investment in renewables, innovation, and green finance. Source: Unsplash/Guillaume de Germain

the Green Future Index is based on five key points relating to a country

Produced by the MIT Technology Review, the 2021 edition of the Green Future Index, which ranks 76 countries around the world according to their environmental commitment, places France in fourth place, behind three Nordic countries, Iceland, Denmark and Norway. 

These countries stand out in particular for their production of renewable energy.

For France, it’s the importance placed on hydrogen that earns it the fourth spot in the ranking. “France is a global leader in hydrogen production and has recently pledged to exceed EU targets for hydrogen-based energy with €7 billion (US$8.6 billion) earmarked to create 6.5 gigawatts (GW) of electrolyser capacity by 2030,” details the Green Future Index. 

Last February, the French government held the first meeting of the National Hydrogen Council. An initiative that follows a vast €7 billion funding plan launched in September 2020 to support numerous projects, including the development of the first hydrogen-powered trains.

In fact, France outperforms other countries such as Germany (11th), Sweden (12th), Canada (14th) and the United States (40th) thanks, in part, to its actions at the political level and the investments it plans to make for a “green recovery.”

The last places in this index are occupied mainly by oil and gas-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Algeria, Russia, Iran and Qatar.

To establish this ranking, the Green Future Index is based on five key points relating to a country, including:

  • CO2 emissions
  • energy transition
  • green society or ecological commitment of citizens
  • innovations in “clean” energy 
  • and climate policies. 

See list below to find your country.

Source: SGNews/Yahoo!News

The overall rankings show the performance of the examined economies relative to each other and aggregates scores generated across the following five pillars: Carbon emissions, Energy transition, Green society, Clean innovation and Climate policy.
Overall rankings. The overall rankings show the performance of the examined economies relative to each other and aggregates scores generated across the following five pillars: Carbon emissions, Energy transition, Green society, Clean innovation and Climate policy. Source: Unsplash/Nikola Jovanovic

Countries 1–25 on the The Green Future Index

1st Iceland 6.5 Europe, Central Asia 

2nd Denmark 6.4 Europe, Central Asia 

3rd Norway 6.2 Europe, Central Asia 

4th France 6 Europe, Central Asia 

5th Ireland 6 Europe, Central Asia 

6th Finland 5.9 Europe, Central Asia 

7th Costa Rica 5.8 Latin America, Caribbean 

8th New Zealand 5.7 East Asia, Pacific 

9th Belgium 5.6 Europe, Central Asia 

10th Netherlands 5.6 Europe, Central Asia 

11th Germany 5.6 Europe, Central Asia

12th Sweden 5.5 Europe, Central Asia 

13th Luxembourg 5.5 Europe, Central Asia 

14th Canada 5.5 North America 

15th Austria 5.5 Europe, Central Asia 

16th Singapore 5.5 East Asia, Pacific 

17th United Kingdom 5.4 Europe, Central Asia 

18th Spain 5.4 Europe, Central Asia 

19th Switzerland 5.4 Europe, Central Asia 

20th Uruguay 5.4 Latin America, Caribbean 

21st India 5.4 South Asia 

22nd Italy 5.3 Europe, Central Asia 

23rd Kenya 5.3 Sub-Saharan Africa 

24th Chile 5.3 Latin America, Caribbean 

25th Colombia 5.2 Latin America, Caribbean 

Green society or ecological commitment of citizens is one of the criteria used to arrive at the score. Source: Unsplash/@myenergi

Countries 26—50 on the The Green Future Index

26th Morocco 5.2 Middle East, North Africa 

27th Ethiopia 5.2 Sub-Saharan Africa 

28th Czech Republic 5.2 Europe, Central Asia 

29th Thailand 5.1 East Asia, Pacific 

30th Portugal 5.1 Europe, Central Asia 

31st South Korea 5.1 East Asia, Pacific 

32nd Brazil 5 Latin America, Caribbean 

33rd Kazakhstan 4.9 Europe, Central Asia 

34th Poland 4.9 Europe, Central Asia 

35th Australia 4.9 East Asia, Pacific 

36th Mexico 4.9 Latin America, Caribbean 

37th Greece 4.8 Europe, Central Asia 

38th Israel 4.8 Middle East, North Africa 

39th Hungary 4.7 Europe, Central Asia 

40th United States 4.7 North America 

41st Cameroon 4.6 Sub-Saharan Africa 

42nd United Arab Emirates 4.6 Middle East, North Africa 

43rd Philippines 4.6 East Asia, Pacific 

44th Bulgaria 4.5 Europe, Central Asia 

45th China 4.5 East Asia, Pacific 

46th Taiwan 4.5 East Asia, Pacific 

47th South Africa 4.5 Sub-Saharan Africa 

48th Romania 4.4 Europe, Central Asia 

49th Vietnam 4.4 East Asia, Pacific 

50th Slovakia 4.4 Europe, Central Asia 

Energy transition is one of the criteria used to arrive at the final score. Source: Unsplash/@scienceinhd

Countries 51—76 on the The Green Future Index

51st Zambia 4.4 Sub-Saharan Africa 

52nd Angola 4.3 Sub-Saharan Africa 

53rd Nigeria 4.3 Sub-Saharan Africa 

54th Uganda 4.3 Sub-Saharan Africa 

55th Dominican Republic 4.2 Latin America, Caribbean 

56th Malaysia 4.2 East Asia, Pacific 

57th Indonesia 4.2 East Asia, Pacific 

58th Egypt 4.1 Middle East, North Africa 

59th Argentina 4 Latin America, Caribbean 

60th Japan 4 East Asia, Pacific 

61st Saudi Arabia 4 Middle East, North Africa 

62nd Ecuador 4 Latin America, Caribbean 

63rd Ukraine 4 Europe, Central Asia 

64th Hong Kong 3.9 East Asia, Pacific 

65th Kuwait 3.9 Middle East, North Africa 

66th Peru 3.9 Latin America, Caribbean 

67th Pakistan 3.8 South Asia 

68th Turkey 3.8 Europe, Central Asia 

69th Bangladesh 3.7 South Asia 

70th Guatemala 3.7 Latin America, Caribbean 

71st Ghana 3.6 Sub-Saharan Africa 

72nd Algeria 3.2 Middle East, North Africa 

73rd Russia 2.9 Europe, Central Asia 

74th Iran 2.9 Middle East, North Africa 

75th Paraguay 2.7 Latin America, Caribbean 

76th Qatar 2.6 Middle East


Where was your country in the table? Could your government be doing more? These rankings are not fixed in stone, and progress can be made wherever you are in the world. When the will of ordinary citizens and their governments is there, change does take place.

Source: TechnologyReview

CO2 emissions, innovations in “clean” energy and climate policies are 3 of the criteria used to arrive at the final score. Source: Unsplash/Elena Mozhvilo
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