Can a Country Become Carbon Neutral?

Technically this is possible but most countries are concentrating on reducing their carbon emissions and encouraging individuals and companies to become carbon neutral, rather than aiming to achieve carbon neutral status for the whole country. However, in 2009, the race to become the world’s first carbon neutral country has started in earnest. But who are the main contenders?

Sweden to be Carbon Neutral by 2050

Sweden took over the EU presidency in July 2009 and is pushing for greater energy efficiency. At home, Sweden has plans in place to become completely carbon neutral by 2050, and would be the first EU country to do so. Sweden is also pushing to lead the rest of Europe in this direction at the talks on climate change in Copenhagen in December 2009. The main outcome of this conference should be a new agreement that will replace the Kyoto protocol, which set the current goals for western affluent countries to reduce their carbon emissions.

Sweden has some great examples of how it will achieve carbon neutrality. One of its most industrialised cities, Kalmar, is already carbon neutral. With a population of 60 000, it has been difficult to achieve but Kalmar now replaces all of its reliance on fossil fuels and obtains its energy for lighting and heating and power from renewable sources. It has cogeneration plants that burn waste timber and sawdust – in plentiful supply from the surrounding sustainable forests.

All vehicles on the roads of Kalmar run on biogas and this is made from more waste wood with some chicken manure thrown in. To top up supplies, the residents use ethanol that is imported from Brazil.

Throughout the rest of the country, similar schemes are either being implemented or are being seriously considered. Sweden was one of the first countries in the world to have a carbon tax – which it set up back in 1990. The country has been steadily buildings its wind and hydro electric power supplies and has some nuclear power plants. It needs to reduce carbon emissions from its energy generation because it does have one of the highest rates of power consumption in Europe, per person. Probably because it is so cold for much of the year.

Maldives to be Carbon Neutral by 2020

Recently, the president of the Maldives made the claim that his country is also planning to become carbon neutral but that it hopes to achieve this goal within the next decade. At the moment, however, the changes necessary are only at the planning stage and the switch to renewable energy sources has not yet been made.

The Maldives has a head start on many countries in that most of its 1200 islands are actually uninhabited. It also has much less heavy industry that most countries in Europe and is still a developing country. However, the aim to develop in a way that will enable it to be carbon neutral has been welcomed by other world leaders. The Maldives does not have a huge budget to invest on renewable energy generation but, to develop, it intends to use what money it does have on alternative technologies such as wind, solar and hydroelectric power generation.

Costa Rica has Pledged to Become Carbon Neutral

Another developing country, Costa Rica has also entered the race to become the world’s first carbon neutral country. Many experts think that it might just win but it has to overcome some serious hurdles first and its goal may also take about ten years to achieve. The country’s natural beauty has made it a tourist hot spot that has led to overdevelopment and it has a big problem with illegal logging. However, the commitment to get these problems under control seems to be strong. Many who live there, close to the rich diversity of the rainforests, possibly realise more than most people just what is at stake if they fail.

Other Countries in the Race

Norway, another Scandinavian country with a good track record of environmental policies has also committed to becoming carbon neutral in the relatively near future, as has New Zealand, Iceland and Monaco. Which country will get there first can only be guessed at but it is possible that, in around a century, countries that are not carbon neutral may be the exception rather than the rule.

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