The recently released Sustainability Leaders 2024 Survey highlights Sweden, other Northern European countries, and Costa Rica as the most recognized national governments for advancing sustainable development.
Our global expert panel identified the governments of Sweden, Germany, Denmark, and Norway as leaders in advancing sustainable development. Finland, Costa Rica, France, the UK, the Netherlands, and the European Union also rank in the top ten most recognized governmental institutions. While Western governments are most recognized for their sustainability efforts, experts also highlighted leading countries outside Europe and North America such as China, Japan, Bhutan, India, Singapore, and Brazil.
The GlobeScan / ERM Sustainability Institute Leaders Survey captures the perspectives of 484 sustainability experts in 65 countries worldwide on the priorities and forces shaping the sustainable development agenda. The survey explores sustainability leadership across governments, nongovernmental organizations, and companies and tracks priority issues and the most significant recent developments.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
The national governments that are highly regarded for their leadership in sustainable development tend to prioritize renewable energy, carbon neutrality, and the development of sustainable cities. Costa Rica, the only Global South country in the top ten, is known for its heavy reliance on renewable energy, protecting almost 30 percent of its territory as national parks, and focusing on eco-tourism. These leading governments are setting an example for other countries to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and develop more sustainable ways of living. However, they must also ensure that their citizens see the benefits of these green policies to avoid potential backlash.
Join GlobeScan and the ERM Sustainability Institute for an insightful webinar on September 19, 2024 at 11 AM New York / 4 PM London to discuss navigating the future of sustainability leadership in the context of legislative breakthroughs and anti-ESG backlash, along with the implications for sustainability leadership going forward.
Survey Question: What specific national governments do you think are leaders in advancing sustainable development? Please enter a maximum of three countries in the spaces provided.
Source: 2024 GlobeScan / ERM Sustainability Institute Leaders Survey of 484 experts representing business, government, NGOs, and academia across 65 countries from April to May 2024
