It's true: 2020, as a whole, was quite a mess for the entire world. Despite that fact, there are many places around the globe that turned global warming on its head and surprised many with their environmentally-friendly practices. In terms of the 'greenest' destinations in the world, surprisingly, there are many - but there are some that simply shine in the light that is the future of eco-friendly living. Whether it was a drastic cut down on waste products or a decision to do without plastic or another product that's not eco-friendly, there are some places that serve as a cornerstone for our world and its survival.
In many of these places, humans lent Mother Nature more help than they put her at a disadvantage. Renewable energy continued to grow in popularity despite the pandemic and many countries and cities still found the time to devote to making the environment healthier. Of course, a dramatic decrease in travel and the use of by-product-producing vehicles played a role in that but, overall, these destinations found their place in a global effort toward slowing down global warming and allowing nature to flourish once again.
Ecuador
It's not too much of a surprise to see that Ecuador was one of the countries leading the world in green living during 2020. For most years prior to that, the story was the same: Ecuador is consistently named one of the World's Leading Green Destinations.
The Galapagos Islands is only one aspect of this green recognition but it's a big one. Along with these miraculous islands is the last remaining bastion of the South American cloud forest, making it one of the most unique destinations in the world in terms of environment, as well.
Uruguay
Uruguay has been generating a substantial lead in the fight for a green planet since 2016 when it was discovered the 94% of the electricity - throughout the entire country - is generated via wind, agricultural waste, and solar power.
The country isn't stopping there, though, as Uruguay also plans to drive this number up to 100% within the coming year. Sustainable ways of living are part of their plan to virtually redesign how the country functions and performs in terms of global eco-friendly advancement.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco is the most eco-friendly city in the country which is saying a lot, given its population and many needs for transportation and business. Often, it's the first city to implement eco-friendly measures such as the banning of plastic bags leading the race to be completely waste-free.
Azores Islands
The Azores have gained recognition from being named one of the top 100 most sustainable destinations in the world. Graciosa, in particular, is already effectively running with 100% renewable energy, which is a massive step not just for Portugal but for the world, as well.
Only part of this is renewable energy, though - the Azores Islands have some of the most protected sites of any in the world, ensuring that future forests and waterways are protected for generations to come.
Isle Of Eigg, Scotland
The Isle of Eigg is just off the mainland and while it's not surprising that Scotland is one of the greenest countries in the world, the owners of this isle have done something incredible: Created the first renewable energy grid in the world.
Thanks to this, the isle has also been able to generate significant interest in eco-tourism and is home to many types of marine life that thrive in its virtually untouched, and unpolluted, environment.
Chumbe Island
Chumbe Island absolutely shines when it comes to conservation efforts on the part of marine life. The entire island in Africa is privately managed by a non-profit, and it's also home to one of the most incredible reefs in the world according to worldtravelguide.net. Those who visit the island will also be greeted with an experience that's completely off-grid, only furthering its sustainability.
Singapore
Singapore is another city that's leading the world in the movement toward a greener future. One of the biggest, and most recent, advancements in all of this is called NEWater, which is an effective way to catch rainwater as well as recycle it. Singapore also has a program called The Green Mark in place, which helps to reduce carbon emissions by encouraging eco-friendly alternatives.
Sweden
Topping the list, Sweden is the true leader when it comes to paving the way for a brighter - and greener - future. As a country, more than 54% of its energy is from renewable resources, making it the global leading standard to be beaten.
Along with that, Sweden is also home to more forests (63%) than developed land, helping to keep emissions and city growth in check. By 2040, the country hopes to be using 100% renewable energy for all of its citizen's needs.