Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast

Episode 260

Powerful Alone, Unstoppable Together: How Individuals Can Help Their Country Become More Environmentally Friendly

Very early in the production of this podcast I produced an episode on the greenest countries in the world, meaning those that are the most environmentally friendly. Countries that are on this list are evaluated by very specific metrics and it takes decades of change to end up on this list. 

What always astonishes me is that the countries that are at the top of the list are some of the smallest countries in the world. Those at the bottom of the list are some of the largest and most wealthy countries.

But, as you know, countries are made of people and it is the people that ultimately make the difference. So, what can we all do to help our countries be more green? To find out, join me for E260

Welcome back everyone to the Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast. This is your host Patrick and this is E260 which is called Powerful Alone, Unstoppable Together: How Individuals Can Help Their Country Become More Environmentally Friendly

You know, I am convinced that the average person has no true appreciation for the power behind their personal choices. In many respects, our world is what it is right now because of the cumulative effect of all of our personal choices. Likewise, we can save our planet with the cumulative effect of our personal choices. We just have to learn to make different and better choices, that being sustainable choices of course

What you have to remember is that countries are made of people and it is the power of all the personal choices of those people that make one country green versus one that is not. 

But before we get to that, let’s talk about the good news story of the week. 

Cutting Edge Technology Generates Pure Water and Hydrogen Fuel from Sea Water for Mere Pennies

There is a new seawater desalination plant in coastal China that has made remarkable progress in producing fresh water at a low cost. This new plant beats out previous flagship desalination plants in Saudi Arabia and California in terms of cost effectiveness, while adding a new valuable output-green hydrogen fuel. 

This plant is located in a city that is one of China’s most renewable powered cities, one in which all urban water heaters are powered by solar panels. 

Out of 800 metric tons of seawater, this plant is able to produce 118, 877 gallons of fresh water and 192,000 cubic meters of green hydrogen fuel. That is enough fuel to power 50 city buses for 4, 600 miles each all while producing zero emissions.

The plant using waste heat from a nearby steel foundry as a means to power their process. A cubic meter of fresh water is produced for US $0.28. This is half the price of a similar plant in Saudi Arabia while the desalination plant in California charges. $2.20 per cubic meter. 

This is yet another example of how we can truly find innovative ways to solve some of the most challenging environmental issues of our time. 

Now, let’s move on to this week’s episode on how each of us can help our countries be more environmentally friendly. 

Let’s start out by defining a few parameters. 

What Makes the Greenest Countries ‘Green’

What Does “Greenest” Mean?

• When we say a country is “green,” we don’t just mean that it has forests or clean air — we mean it performs well across a broad range of environmental, health, and climate-related measures.
• This includes: ecosystem health, air & water quality, waste & resource management, biodiversity protection, renewable energy adoption, and climate-friendly policies.
• “Green” is a holistic concept — involving government policy, infrastructure, culture, as well as  citizen behavior.

Measuring “Green” — The Environmental Performance Index (EPI)

• The EPI is one of the most widely used tools for comparing national environmental performance. It was developed by Yale University to rank which countries were best addressing environmental challenges. 
• It analyzes 40 performance indicators across:
   
  • Ecosystem Vitality (biodiversity, habitat protection, land & water conservation) 
• Environmental Health (air quality, water & sanitation, pollution, exposure to toxins) 
• 
  
  • Climate Change & Climate Policy (GHG emissions, mitigation efforts, projected future emissions) 

• By using such a broad set of metrics, EPI helps show which countries balance development with sustainability.

Green Future Index

The Green Future Index (GFI) by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ranks 76 nations and territories based on their progress and commitment towards a sustainable future. It examines 22 indicators across five categories: climate policy, carbon emissions, energy transition, green society, and clean innovation.

Who Are the Greenest Countries?

According to 2025 data, some of the top-performing countries globally include:

Estonia: strong ecosystem and environmental health indicators

Germany: strong environmental governance, waste management, renewable energy infrastructure. 

Finland: scores high on air and water quality, strong policies backing sustainability

Switzerland: robust water and waste management,

Iceland: nearly 100% renewable energy for electricity. 

Other countries such as the UK, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Costa Rica, Norway, France, and Estonia are also on the list as some of the most environmentally friendly countries in the world. 

What These Countries Have in Common — Patterns & Success Factors

• Strong environmental governance and laws: Environmental protection isn’t accidental — it’s codified in regulations, enforced, and backed by policy. 
• High use of renewable energy: Many rely heavily on hydro, wind, geothermal — reducing dependence on fossil fuels. 
• Sustainable resource management: Forest cover, biodiversity protection, water quality, waste treatment, pollution control. 
• Public awareness, culture & lifestyle: Sustainability is part of daily life — from waste recycling to energy-efficient infrastructure and eco-conscious transportation. 
• Long-term planning & innovation: Governments and societies investing in clean-tech, sustainable urban planning, climate-resilient infrastructure. 

Challenges & Nuances — Why “Green” Doesn’t Always Mean “Perfect”

• Even countries with mostly renewable energy still face emissions challenges — for example through transport, heavy industry, or per-capita energy use. This just demonstrates the complexity of achieving true sustainability.
• Sustainability requires constant effort: policies must evolve, public behavior must adapt, and systems must be maintained.
• Tradeoffs: balancing economic growth, energy demand, public infrastructure, and environmental protection is complex.

Lessons & Takeaways — What Other Countries / Communities Can Learn

• Environmental governance and strong, enforceable policies matter.
• Investing in renewable energy infrastructure — hydro, wind, geothermal, solar — can significantly reduce carbon footprint.
• Protecting natural ecosystems, managing waste and water effectively, and ensuring biodiversity helps sustain long-term environmental health.
• Public awareness and lifestyle choices (transportation, consumption, waste habits) are just as important as government policy.
• Long-term thinking: sustainability requires planning for decades, not just a few years.

Conclusion

• The “greenest” countries — such as Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, and others — show that high environmental performance is possible when policy, culture, and infrastructure align with one another.
• “Green” is multidimensional: clean energy, ecosystem health, public health, climate strategy, and societal behavior.
• As climate change intensifies, these nations offer valuable models — but also remind us of the work needed to maintain and deepen sustainability.
• Ultimately, green nations prove that sustainable living and progress can go hand-in-hand.

Why Individual Action Matters

Even though climate change and environmental degradation are national and global challenges, individuals remain one of the largest drivers of change. This is why I like to say choices make changes. 

• Personal choices influence markets, culture, and politics.
• Collective individual actions shape national policies and environmental outcomes for each country. 

One person may be small — but millions acting together can and do transform entire countries.

The Three Way That Individuals Have an Impact

Individuals influence national sustainability through:

1. Personal Behavior (daily habits & lifestyle)
2. Community Action (local engagement, volunteering, organizing)
3. Civic Influence (voting, advocacy, shaping policy)

These three pillars, so to speak, often create a powerful feedback loop that pushes a country toward a greener and more environmentally friendly future.

Pillar 1: Personal Behavior

A. Reduce Energy Use at Home

• Switch to LED lighting, which can save you anywhere from 75% to 90% of energy costs compared to transitional lighting. 
• Upgrade to efficient appliances, which can save up to $500 annually 
• Improve insulation
• Turn off unused electronics
• Install solar panels where possible

Small reductions in household energy demand significantly reduce national energy consumption. Residential energy consumption accounts for 20% of our energy related emissions with electricity alone accounting for 60% of that. We could have a significant impact by reducing our personal energy consumption by 10% 

This can be accomplished simply by unplugging all of your electronic devices when not in use. If you want more details about this, then go back and listen to my episode on how to kill the vampires in your house. 

B. Choose Cleaner Transportation

• Walk, bike, or use public transit
• Carpool
• Drive electric or hybrid vehicles if possible
• Reduce unnecessary trips

Transportation is one of the largest sources of national emissions — individual choices shift this sector faster than anything else.

Reducing our driving not only mitigates climate change but also addresses other longstanding issues tied to car-dependent travel, such as road congestion, household expenditures on vehicle ownership, government spending on road infrastructure, and safety risks.

I know you have heard me say this before, but a couple of years ago I meticulously analyzed my own lifestyle. Despite living off the grid and powering my home solely on renewable energy, my transportation was by far my greatest impact. Once I realized this, I rearrange my work schedule and limited where I was willing to work and for who. By doing so, I reduced my commuting by 40% to 50%. Maybe that is not possible for everyone, but it is possible to accomplish at least a 10% reduction. 

C. Adopt Sustainable Consumption Habits

• Buy less, choose quality over quantity. If you remember I did produce an episode called “Buy It Once Buy It for Life.” It may be worth going back and listening to that episode. 
• Support eco-friendly brands
• Repair things at home instead of replacing them
• Choose low-waste packaging

Market demand drives corporate behavior and national production standards so make better choices. 

D. Food Choices That Help the Nation

Our agricultural and food systems contribute heavily to national emissions, water use, and waste and is one of the most environmentally damaging things we do as humans. 

Globally, household food waste alone accounts for about $700 billion in environmental costs. If we reduced our waste by 25% we could feed 821 million chronically undernourished people. The environmental impact would also be substantial, as food waste is responsible for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 25% of freshwater resources used in food production.

Individuals can:

• Eat more plant based meals instead of animal protein. It would not be a difficult choice to consume 2 to 3 vegetarian meals a week in order to reduce your meat consumption. 
• Reduce food waste (plan meals, store food properly, freeze leftovers)
• Compost food scraps
• Buy local, seasonal foods
• Support regenerative and sustainable farmers

If every citizen reduced food waste by even 25%, the nation’s agricultural footprint would shrink dramatically.

Pillar 2: Community Action

Individual efforts grow exponentially when shared with others.

A. Start or Join Local Initiatives

• Community gardens keep produce fresh, organic, and local 
• Neighborhood composting provides natural fertilizers for your local gardens
• Local clean-ups
• Tool libraries or tool sharing  and even local classes on common repair for household items
• Car-share or bike-share clubs

B. Educate and Inspire Others

• Share knowledge on social media, which can have a powerful influence. 
• Host workshops
• Talk with friends and family
• Help local schools, churches, or businesses adopt sustainable practices

Actions such as these help to change social norms and also results in cultural changes. Cultural changes also change nations.

Pillar 3: Civic Influence

Individual actions help shape environmental policy.

A. Vote for Environmental Leadership

Support political leaders who prioritize:

• Renewable energy
• Stricter environmental regulations
• Ecosystem protection
• Public transportation systems
• Climate resilience and adaptation

B. Advocate for Change

• Contact representatives
• Sign petitions
• Attend local meetings
• Support environmental nonprofits
• Support zero waste initiatives 

C. Hold Institutions Accountable

• Ask businesses to improve their sustainability
• Demand transparency in services provided and product production. Keep in mind that companies should regularly publish sustainability reports that include quantitative and qualitative assessments of environmental and social initiatives , past performance, and future outlooks with independent verification to reduce the risk of greenwashing. 
• Support companies with strong environmental commitments. Take the time to look at their company websites and focus on the transparency mentioned above. 

One thing is for certain, policy changes happen where there is pressure from the public.

D. Supporting Renewable Energy Growth

Individuals can help accelerate your country’s clean energy transition by:

• Installing home solar (if possible)
• Purchasing green energy through utility programs. What that means is switching to an energy provider that has renewable energy infrastructure in place. 
• Advocating for renewable energy incentives
• Supporting companies that use clean energy
• Reducing peak-hour electricity use. What most people do not know is that during peak hours utility companies often rely on more expensive power sources or purchase electricity at higher market rates. Reducing your peak hour usage actually helps to lower electricity costs. These hour typically including 6 AM to 10AM and 4PM to 9PM on weekdays. 

If every home globally used 25% renewable energy, it would represent a significant step toward decarbonizing the residential sector, which accounts for approximately 30% of global final energy consumption. We already have the technology to run our entire planet off of renewable energy so 25% is not exactly a substantial leap. 

Just remember that a nation becomes renewable when its people choose renewable.

E. Waste Reduction: A National Priority

Reducing waste lowers landfill pollution, cuts emissions, and protects ecosystems.

Individuals contribute by:

• Recycling correctly. Take the time to learn the ins and outs of recycling and how to do it correctly 
• Composting organic waste. In the US, 51.4 % of waste in our landfills is organic material. Food waste accounts for 24% of that material. 
• Avoiding single-use plastics. Two thirds of all plastic waste comes from single-use items. 
• Carrying reusable bags, cups, and containers and switch to reusable items at home. On average, we throw away 7 pounds of materials per person per day with 30% of that being from single use items. Converting to reusable items will substantially reduce our personal waste. For example, a single reusable water bottle can replace up to 156 plastic bottles annually. A reusable Swedish dishcloth can replace 17 rolls of paper towels. Reusable shopping bags can prevent hundreds of plastic bags from going to landfills. 
• Buying secondhand items

Waste is a cultural problem — and individuals redefine the culture.

F. Protecting Nature & Biodiversity

Even without owning land, individuals can support local ecosystems:

• Plant pollinator friendly gardens
• Avoid using pesticides, especially on your yard, which can cause ground water contamination. 
• Support local conservation efforts
• Participate in tree-planting events
• Protect waterways by using fewer chemicals at home

Nature thrives when communities care.

The “Ripple Effect” of Individual Choices

One sustainable choice influences multiple other things:

• Family members
• Friends
• Co-workers
• Businesses
• Local governments
• National policy

When millions make similar choices, the entire country shifts. For example, we don’t need a few people living waste free lives. We need millions of people trying to live waste free lives. 

 Small actions tend to create large national outcomes.

Examples of Countries Transformed by Individual Action

• Sweden: citizens embraced recycling & energy efficiency; National culture helped to shape national policy
• Denmark: biking became a social norm → the country now has world-leading cycling infrastructure
• Germany: household solar adoption accelerated the national renewable energy transition
• Japan: community recycling norms dramatically reduced national waste. The Japanese community of Kamikatsu, which is a very small community, has become a global model of zero-waste living, having achieved an 80% recycling rate and significantly reduced it reliance on landfills and incinerators since declaring its zero-waste goal in 2003. 
• Iceland: It was literally the efforts of a few farmers that started the movement that resulted in Iceland being run almost entirely off of renewable energy. 

These examples prove that individuals reshape national identity.

What Individuals Can Do Starting Today

1. Choose one sustainable habit to improve this week: For example, carry reusable items such as water bottles, shopping bags, coffee cups, and food containers to reduce single-use waste. 
2. Reduce energy and transportation emissions
3. Cut food waste by 50%. This is one of the easiest and most meaningful things you can start doing immediately. 
4. Support local and sustainable businesses
5. Get involved in one community environmental activity
6. Vote and advocate for strong environmental policies
7. Educate others — be a catalyst

Conclusion: The Power of One

A greener nation begins with millions of small, everyday choices that are made by each and every one of us. 

You don’t need to be a policymaker to shape environmental progress.

 You don’t need to be wealthy to create and impact.
 You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be willing to change some things that you do everyday. The importance is continuous improvement. Even after living off the grid for nearly 30 years now I am still making improvements.

I think one of the key takeaways is that we need to use some of the greenest countries and communities in the world as global models. If a small community in Japan and reach an 80% recycling rate, why can’t we use their model and transform our own communities. If Iceland can manage to run the country on nearly 100% renewable energy why can a country like the United States, which is far more wealthy, manage to do the same?

This is all very possible through individual action. When individuals act, nations change. When nations change, the world transforms into a better place for all of us.