As Earth Day rolls around this weekend, there will be a worldwide uptick in tree plantings, litter cleanups and festivals in honor of our unique planet some 93 million miles from the sun.
But in the days after the annual holiday, conservation is likely to be a priority for some nations more than others.
Sweden is the country that cares the most about the environment, according to data from the 2017 Best Countries rankings — a characterization of 80 countries based on a survey of more than 21,000 global citizens.
“For most Swedes today, sustainability is a way of life,” according to Sweden’s official website.
More than half of the country’s energy supply comes from renewables and Sweden ranks “first in the European Union in consumption of organic foods,” the site says. The country prioritizes investing in green technology and eco-friendly public transportation. It’s also home to a growing number of “passive houses,” which are heated through people’s body warmth, electrical appliances, lighting and sunlight.
[MORE: Norway Ranked World’s Happiest Country of 2017]
Sweden’s Nordic neighbors are also perceived to be eco-friendly. Norway takes the No. 2 spot on the list, followed by Finland, which has committed to being carbon neutral by 2050.
Countries at the bottom of the list include Morocco, China and Iran. Tehran is one of the world’s smoggiest capitals, according to the Guardian, and as many as 270 of its residents die each day from “blood cancer, heart and respiratory diseases, and other pollution-related illnesses.”
Here are the 10 countries perceived to care the most about the environment:
| Countries | Cares About the Environment Rank | U.S. News Rank |
| Sweden | 1 | 6 |
| Norway | 2 | 10 |
| Finland | 3 | 13 |
| Switzerland | 4 | 1 |
| New Zealand | 5 | 14 |
| Denmark | 6 | 12 |
| Netherlands | 7 | 11 |
| Australia | 8 | 8 |
| Canada | 9 | 2 |
| Germany | 10 | 4 |
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Countries That Care the Most About the Environment originally appeared on usnews.com
