Thailand is the least green Asian-Pacific country, according to a new study by research firm ValueChampion.
While data gleaned from 13 different countries shows Thailand ranking about average when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, the Singapore-based company placed us near the bottom when it comes to water pollution and effectiveness of public transportation.
When combined, the analysis of seven categories saw Thailand come in dead last among the Asian-Pacific countries ranked — including fellow ASEAN nations like Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Among the most unsettling stats is the fact that 30 percent of Thailand is still exposed to unsafe drinking water — barely beating out India at 32 percent.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is a cluster of highly developed countries. Japan tops the list of the “greenest,” followed by Singapore, then Australia and South Korea, which are tied for third place.
Those countries — all among the world’s strongest economies in terms of per capita GDP — were found to generally produce less pollution, greenhouse gases and plastic waste.
They’ve also been found to have adopted more renewable energy technologies, preserved more green space, and successfully reduced the number of cars on the road by promoting public transportation.
ValueChampion crafted their list by analyzing publicly available data from sources like the World Bank, Siemen’s Green City Index and the World Air Quality Report. Its evaluation breaks down seven categories:
- Energy: The amount of electricity production from renewable sources compared to the total energy produced
- Air pollution: Average particulate matter
- Water pollution: Prevalence of unsafe drinking water
- Greenhouse gas emission: Level of carbon dioxide in the air
- Waste: Kilograms of plastic waste produced per person, per day
- Green Space: Forested area in each country and green space per person in each country’s most populated city
- Transport: Environmentally friendly public transportation compared to driving their own car
Given our ongoing battle with air pollution and plastic waste, it is sobering to look at the big picture and understand just how far behind we remain in our efforts to take care of our beautiful environs.
Check out ValueChampion’s full study here.
