In this day and age with global warming looming ever closer over our heads like a ravenous eagle, while we (the field mice) try to dodge and evade its every move, sustainability for countries has become more important than ever. If you were to visit Iceland you'll see all sort of little indicators pointing towards its ethical standpoint. Walk into the arrivals lounge of Reykjavik airport and you're greeted by a stand which asks you to honour Iceland as an environmentally friendly country, with a big red button you can smack confidentially with your hand to hold you to that agreement. There's even a counter in bright red LED lights, now in the tens of thousands, as a stark reminder that you'll be bucking the trend if you don't comply. However, is this all for show? Is Iceland as sustainable as all the tourists say? Or is it just a clever marketing ploy to draw people in?
The Environmental Performance Index Score
Facts are facts and unfortunately when it comes to numbers and statistics Iceland's environmentally friendly leadership seems to have faltered. Back in 2010 Iceland has an EPI (Environmental Performance Index) score of 93.5, towering over its competition as the greenest country in the world. An EPI score is assessed from a number of different factors but split into two main sections; environmental health (air quality, water, sanitation) and ecosystem vitality (climate and energy, biodiversity, forests). Iceland ranked so highly in that year due to having most of its energy from renewable sources, high public health scores and leading the way in controlling its greenhouse gas emissions.
Fast forward to 2018 and Iceland has plummeted off the top spot and landed quite heavily at 11th place with a EPI score of 78.57, ranking below the United Kingdom at 6th place with a close score of 79.89. Although we all view Iceland as an environmentally friendly country how has it managed to score lower than the UK, arguably one of the most damned countries in the EU? Take a closer look at the scores and you'll see that Iceland's environmental health is one of the highest for all countries, second only to Finland. Where Iceland performs worst at is its ecosystem vitality that accounts for 60% of its overall score. This takes into account water resources, agriculture, forests, fisheries, biodiversity and habitat, and climate and energy. Where did it all go wrong?
Overfishing a Top Offender
As an island surrounded entirely by the sea it's no surprise that fishing is an integral part to Iceland's economy. For years Iceland and the EU have clashed in talks about over-fishing with Iceland firmly believing that they know best of how many fish they can catch from the sea before harming the environment. This is likely to have strongly affected Iceland's EPI score, with a particularly low rating for fish stock status which indicates how many fish are caught. That being said, Iceland ranks above notable fishing offenders such as Japan and Portugal. Linking in with this Iceland has a particularly low score for SOx emissions (sulphur dioxide) which is greatly impacted by the shipping industry. This can make aquatic environments acidic and affect the overall environmental friendliness of a country. If you've been to Iceland before you'll know that whale meat is surprisingly common in most restaurants in Reykjavik. If you want to help the problem avoid buying it and look for a more sustainable alternative.
Trailblazers in Sustainability
Although over-fishing might be the greatest weakness currently for Iceland it has plenty of positive environmental factors to rave about. Iceland leads as the top country in renewable energy with a plan to become the worlds first county completely reliant on renewable energy sources. With over 80% of total energy coming from geothermal power and hydropower, and 99% of its electricity production created the same way, Iceland is a trailblazer in sustainability. If you're looking to rent a car straight from the airport you'll see how environmentally friendly Iceland is with a specific view to showcase their renewable energy plastered all over the walls.
As an island surrounded entirely by the sea it's no surprise that fishing is an integral part to Iceland's economy. For years Iceland and the EU have clashed in talks about over-fishing with Iceland firmly believing that they know best of how many fish they can catch from the sea before harming the environment. This is likely to have strongly affected Iceland's EPI score, with a particularly low rating for fish stock status which indicates how many fish are caught. That being said, Iceland ranks above notable fishing offenders such as Japan and Portugal. Linking in with this Iceland has a particularly low score for SOx emissions (sulphur dioxide) which is greatly impacted by the shipping industry. This can make aquatic environments acidic and affect the overall environmental friendliness of a country. If you've been to Iceland before you'll know that whale meat is surprisingly common in most restaurants in Reykjavik. If you want to help the problem avoid buying it and look for a more sustainable alternative.
Trailblazers in Sustainability
Although over-fishing might be the greatest weakness currently for Iceland it has plenty of positive environmental factors to rave about. Iceland leads as the top country in renewable energy with a plan to become the worlds first county completely reliant on renewable energy sources. With over 80% of total energy coming from geothermal power and hydropower, and 99% of its electricity production created the same way, Iceland is a trailblazer in sustainability. If you're looking to rent a car straight from the airport you'll see how environmentally friendly Iceland is with a specific view to showcase their renewable energy plastered all over the walls.
While there are many other factors to Iceland's environmentally friendly status, such as abhorrent over-tourism, there are plenty of reasons to praise Iceland for its efforts in tackling climate change. For now Switzerland has the top spot for environmental performance but there's no doubt that Iceland is quickly catching up.
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