SOUTHEAST ASIA’S GREENEST COUNTRIES

The last Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI) was released two years ago. There’s news that another ranking for 2007 will be released soon. ESI is a composite index tracking 21 indicators of environmental sustainability and was compiled by Yale University Center for Environmental Law and Policy - in collaboration with Columbia University's Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), and the World Economic Forum.

Taken from the world ranking – here are the GREENEST countries in Southeast Asia (Country/ESI points/World Ranking):

1. Malaysia 54.0 / 38
Malaysia’s environmental policies are the most comprehensive and the most efficiently implemented in Southeast Asia. They even offer incentives for the Storage, Treatment and Disposal of Toxic and Hazardous Wastes.

2. Burma 52.8 / 46

3. Laos 52.4 / 52

4. Cambodia 50.1 / 68

5. Thailand 49.8 / 73

6. Indonesia 48.8 / 75

7. Philippines 42.3 / 125

8. Vietnam 42.3 / 127

9. Singapore 41.8 / (unranked)*


*Singapore was unranked. Small states have different index. Brunei was not listed on the index.


A total of 146 countries worldwide were ranked. Notice how half of Southeast Asia is ranked on the bottom of the list! This calls for more stringent environmental policies in our region.


****

Subscribe to BISEAN