Climate change: Comparing “green” and “polluting” nation-states

Abstract

Some nation-states, i.e., Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, repeatedly score the highest in environmental indicators such as the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) and the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI). Their cities win environmental awards; they have well-developed recycling systems; they perform well with biodegradable waste; and their citizens show awareness of environmental problems, protesting publicly and even sueing their governing bodies if they don't do the same. For these and other reasons, recent scholarship defined these countries as “exemplary” green nation-states. The question is, which factors pushed them toward the green transition faster than others? And overall, what stops top polluting countries such as China, the United States and Russia from walking the same path? This article attempts to answer these questions by looking at climate change through a theoretical framework based on theories of nationalism and case studies of green nation-states. It compares three of said top polluting countries, China, the United States, and Russia, with “exemplary” green nation-states, and argues that the pace of greener nation-states rests on (1) a tradition of ecologism and environmentalism rooted in the long run, (2) the lock in of “green nationalism,” a form of nationalism grounded on sustainability, (3) free and effective environmental movements, (4) inclusivity and welfare, and (5) a sense of national pride in environmental achievements. The available evidence seems to suggest that top polluting nation-states lack one or more of these factors.

Energy Efficiency Evaluation and Forecasting of the Sussex Ports to Address Climate Change Concerns: a Data-driven Decision Model

“…According to the results obtained from analyses, TNRR variable is found to be statistically significant, and it has negative impact on CCPI score of the countries. This finding is consistent with the results of previous studies (Posocco & McNeill, 2023;Adams & Klobodu, 2017). When the countries in the last category (very low) of the CCPI are examined, it has been seen that the value of TNRR variable is higher than the other countries.…”

Interlinkages between Climate Change Impacts, Public Attitudes, and Climate Action—Exploring Trends before and after the Paris Agreement in the EU

“…(1) the development of a tradition of ecologism and environmentalism rooted in the long term; (2) the lock-in of green nationalism across society; (3) free and effective environmental movements; (4) inclusivity and welfare; and (5) a sense of national pride in environmental achievements [65]. Further research examining the evolution of these factors and how they can be bolstered in the EU has to potential to accelerate climate action in the years to come.…”

Education in the Anthropocene: assessing planetary health science standards in the USA

“…Once a leader of environmental policies and initiatives, many of the first environmental movements took place in the USA in response to intense industrialization and exploitation of natural resources in the nineteenth century [ 63 ]. Today however, the USA lags behind China and India in renewable energy investment and falls far behind other developed nations including Iceland, Denmark, Norway and France in establishing and meeting climate change initiatives [ 64 , 65 ]. The underperformance of the USA response to climate change could very well be connected to the lack of consistent and comprehensive planetary health education across the nation.…”