Photo: Dylan Passmore/ Flickr

A new report has revealed which countries are having the worst effect on our planet. Using seven indicators to measure the damage countries are doing, including water pollution, species threat and carbon footprint, the Adelaide Environment Institute in Australia has identified the 10 countries that are wreaking the most havoc on the environment. The study also debunked the myth that wealthier countries have more access to green technology. In fact, it’s some of the world’s richest countries that are doing the most harm. We look at the top five.

Five – Japan

Japan ranks 5^th for water pollution and the loss of natural habitats, 4^th for marine capture and 6^th for carbon emissions. Numbers of Atlantic bluefin tuna have dropped 19 per cent since 1975 and, since the government banned whaling in 1986, ‘whaling for research’ has resulted in whale meat making its way to plates as sashimi.

Four – Indonesia

Between 1950 and the year 2000 40 per cent of Indonesia’s rainforests were cleared. Forested areas dropped from 162 million square hectares to 98 million. Indonesia ranks 2^nd for forest loss and, likely as a result of deforestation, ranks 3^rd for threatened species. For CO2 emissions Indonesia is ranked 3^rd and for marine capture the country comes in at 6^th place.

Three – China

China earned an embarrassing 1^st place for water pollution. Over 70 per cent of rivers and lakes in China are polluted and 20 million people don’t have access to clean water. Pollution incidents happen almost daily, with the World Health Organisation estimating that 100,000 people die from water pollution-related illness a year. China is also in 1^st place when it comes to marine capture, 2^nd place for carbon emissions and comes in 6^th for threatened species.

Two – USA

While the USA ranked an impressively low 211 for the conversion of natural habitats, it comes in 1^st for fertiliser use, 1^st for carbon dioxide emissions, 2^nd for water pollution and 3^rd for marine capture. The country’s use of nitrogen fertilisers can, by seeping into the water table, cause the destruction of natural habits.

One – Brazil

Brazil ranked in the top 10 in all the categories the report considered. It comes in 1^st for forest loss, 3^rd for habitat conversion, 3^rd for fertiliser use, 4^th for threatened species, 4^th for carbon dioxide emissions and 8^th for water pollution. These results are largely attributable to deforestation to accommodate cattle ranching and the growing of soya and cocoa.

See the full report here.

Tags: environment, environmentally friendly