And the answer might surprise you.

答案可能出乎你意料之外。

Hey Everyone Julia here for DNews.

嗨 大家好 我是Dnews 節目主持人Julia

Here in the US we like to think pretty highly of ourselves. We like to think we’re

『美國』 或許是我們公認環境最友善的國家吧

the BEST AT EVERYTHING. Especially on a day like Earth Day.

我們會認為美國什麼都是最棒的。特別是在地球日這天

But we can’t seem to get it through our skulls that we aren’t great at all the things. Especially when it comes to the environment.

但，我們不能總認為自己國家是最出色。特別是提到環境.

So where does the US rank compared to the rest of world ?

所以美國在世界上排名第幾呢 ?

According to the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development’s Better Life

根據經濟共同營運組織，發展理想生活指數來看

Index, the top honor goes to Sweden. Other top countries include Australia, the United

由"瑞典"榮獲最高殊榮。其他前面國家包括澳洲、英國

Kingdom, New Zealand, and Finland. Although this index only measures things like air pollution and water quality,

紐西蘭、芬蘭。雖然生活指數只評估空氣污染及水源品質

the things that really affect a person on a daily basis.

但，這些事情每天卻影響著人們

But according to Yale University’s Environmental Performance Index, Switzerland takes the lead,

根據耶魯大學環境表現指數來說，瑞士才是引領先驅的國家

followed by Luxembourg, Australia, Singapore, and the Czech Republic. The EPI is more comprehensive.

接著有盧森堡、澳洲、新加坡、捷克共和國。而環境表現指數涉及更加廣泛

It measures things like environmental health, air pollution and water quality, but it also

評估包括環境健康、空氣汙染及水源品質，但，

takes into account less tangible things like the the health of the ecosystem. Which includes

必須將不具體的因素列入考量，像是生態衛生。其中

protected habitat, fish stocks, and even energy use.

也包含保護區、漁業甚至是能源使用

How did Switzerland get ahead? In recent years the country has designated a lot of land as

瑞士怎樣獨佔鰲頭呢？近年來，瑞士將規劃土地改成國家公園

National Parks, which earned it the top score for Terrestrial Protected Areas. And it gets

使得陸地保護區方面贏得更多分數。此外

over half of its energy through hydroelectric power, the rest from Nuclear, so it’s got

超過一半的能源是利用水力發電，其次才用核能發電。所以形成小型

a very small carbon footprint.

碳足跡環境

Luxembourg is a small country with only half a million people and 1500 square miles. (2500

盧森堡這個國家1500平方英里(相當：2500平方公里)卻只有一百萬人口

square km). But its robust water and sanitation networks plus protection of 17% of land habitats

但，它乾淨水源和衛生設備加上有17%的土地保護區

earns it the number two spot.

因此獲得第二名

Australia comes in at number 3 with high marks in health impact and water quality. The land

澳洲排名第三，主要在健康及水質上獲得高分。

down under also boosts solid scores in both terrestrial and marine protected areas.

在土地上，推動海陸保護區提高了實質的分數

How about the US? Well according to the EPI The United States is number thirty three,

那美國呢？根據環境表現指數，美國排名33

just above Malta but below Belarus. While we excel at measures of health, like air quality

高於馬爾地，但卻低於白俄羅斯。在健康表現突出，像是空氣品質

and sanitation, we suck, I mean really really suck at other measurements.

以及衛生設備。但，在其他評估方面卻不見得如此。

The US performs very poorly in measurements of fisheries, with huge collapses of certain fish stocks.

美國在漁業方面表現非常糟糕。魚產量大崩盤

And the country still has some room to grow in terms of climate and energy use.

並且在氣候以及能源使用上還有成長空間

I know i know, most of you must be wondering, where is Costa Rica? The Small Central American

我知道....你們都在想說哥斯大黎加在哪？它位於美國中部，

country is well known for its eco-tourism. According to the World Bank over 20% of the

其中以永續觀光為美名。根據世界銀行有超過百分之二十

land is designated as a protected area. Well they did reforest half their country in just

的陸地當作保護區。恩..他們花了數十年的時間在他們國家重新造林

a few decades. And this year, they used 100% renewable energy for 75 days. Yet, it placed

在今年，他們長達75天使用百分百再生能源。但是，在環境表現指數上

54th on the EPI listing. Its downfall seems to be its treatment or lack thereof of wastewater.

卻排名54。而排名會如此低落似乎跟欠缺汙水處理有關

According to a UN report, just three percent of the country’s urban sewage was treated

根據聯合國報告，只有百分之三國家的汙水有經過處理

before being released back into the water.

才排出湖泊

But all of this data is from 2014 so maybe when the index is updated in 2016 things might

但是，全部的數據都來自2014年，若是數據取自2016年的話

look a little different.

排名將會有所差異。

Fortunately Toyota is pitching in to help us become a greener nation! The new Toyota

幸運地是Toyota汽車幫助我們變成綠色國家。最新的Toyota汽車

Mirai is looking to the future with sustainability in mind; fueled by hydrogen and leaving zeroe missions behind.

"Mirai"在未來是心目中永續發展的車型:以氫當作原料並且排放零廢氣

Special thanks to our viewers Wesley Van Der Burg, jean-francois prince, michael gutierrez,

特別感謝Wesley Van Der Burg, jean-francois prince ,michael gutierrez

and a few others who asked this question in the comments.

還有其他留言提問的觀眾

And you wanna know more about the environment, Trace tells us the truth about biodegradable

你想要知道更多環境議題，請追蹤 " the truth about biodegradable plastics"

plastics in this video down here.

下面的短片連結

Do you have any science questions you’d like us to tackle? Ask below and might just

你有任何科學上的問題想要我們解決？我們會將你的問題

answer in a future episode. Please like this video. subscribe to our channel. And as always,

在未來一集中回答。要是你喜歡這個短片，請訂閱我們的頻道

thanks so much for watching DNews.

我們由衷感謝您觀賞Dnews