When traveling, it is pleasing to know your destination city is clean. We have all been to those amazing destinations that are tainted by the environment which surrounds it. It’s a deterrent to see trash on the streets and/or cityscape buried in the smog. Being in a country that takes care of their surrounding environment is a huge factor in making a wonderful travel experience. If a country takes the initiative to make their country “green,” the world takes notice, or at least researchers at Yale and Columbia Universities do.

In January 2008, Yale and Columbia Universities released a report called the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) that rates 149 countries on their environmental performance of their country’s policies. The index evaluates the performance of policies regarding sanitation, agricultural, air pollution, but the most heavily weighted is climate change. With the top score of 95.5, Switzerland is the most greenhouse gas efficient economy of the world due to their development of hydroelectric power and its transportation system. The Swiss have maintained the pristine mountain lands and keep their cities clean, making Switzerland an ideal travel destination.

If you spend time traveling in one of the top performing countries from the list, you will be able to notice the pristine nature that these countries treasure. Walk through areas like Silvretta glacier in Switzerland or go in Monteverde Cloud Forest in Costa Rica. These top countries are working hard to preserve their natural environment and also reducing their impact on global climate change.

[Photo from pfly via Flickr]