Romania's Responsibility Towards The Environment

Romania [Country Profile Page]
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	44th best
Capital	Bucharest
Land Area	230 160km21
Location	Europe
Population	19.5m2
Life Expectancy	74.18yrs (2017)3
GNI	$30 027 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	RO, ROU, 6425
Internet Domain	.ro6
Currency	Leu (RON)7
Telephone	+408

Romania is positioned 68th in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This is computed using 21 data sets. Romania does better than average for its forested percent change 2000-2020₉, energy to GDP efficiency₁₀ and in its environmental performance₁₁ (but low for Europe). Romania still has work to do. Romania does worse than average when it comes to its score on the Green Future Index₁₂ (amongst the worst in Europe), the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₁₃, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in reducing annual meat consumption per person₁₄ (still low for Europe).

1. Romania's Responsibility Towards The Environment
2. Data Sets
   1. Forest Area Change 2000-2020
   2. Environmental Performance
   3. Energy to GDP Efficiency
   4. International Accords on the Environment
   5. Rational Beliefs on the Environment
   6. Meat Consumption
   7. Green Future Index
3. Links

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1. Romania's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#climate_change #the_environment

Compared to Europe (2025)15
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank15
1	Switzerland	45.0
2	Denmark	50.4
3	Liechtenstein	56.8
	...
16	Sweden	71.8
17	Finland	71.9
18	France	72.8
19	Romania	73.8
20	UK	74.4
21	Turkey	75.0
22	Belgium	75.3
23	Bulgaria	75.8
24	Latvia	77.7
	Europe Avg	86.45
q=48.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)15
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank15
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
65	Pakistan	72.0
66	France	72.8
67	Congo, DR	73.0
68	Romania	73.8
69	Swaziland	74.2
70	Chad	74.4
71	UK	74.4
72	Turkey	75.0
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

2. Data Sets

2.1. Forest Area Change 2000-2020

#biodiversity #deforestation #environmentalism #forests #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better9
Pos.		Total9
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
33	Kazakhstan	9.7%
34	Lithuania	8.9%
35	Estonia	8.7%
36	Romania	8.7%
37	Spain	8.6%
38	Dominican Rep.	8.5%
39	Greece	8.4%
40	Réunion	8.1%
	Europe Avg	8.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Romania ranks 36th in the world with regard to its forested percent change 2000-2020.

Forests are carbon sinks, mitigating against climate change_16,17. Unfortunately, we are destroying over 70,000 km² of forest each year₁₈. In the last few thousand years, we've removed 30-40% of the Earth's forest cover_19,17, mostly to clear space for agriculture, and for logging_20,21. The produce from both is shipped from poorer countries to richer ones. Half-hearted government efforts and company obfuscation of supply chains makes it almost impossible for consumers to tell which foods and products are from sustainable sources, and which ones are encouraging irresponsible deforestation, meaning that there is little incentive for companies to relent.

The effects are catastrophic. 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions are the result of deforestation_22,20. It brings soil erosion from wind and rain which, over time, can almost-permanently stop any hope of growing food₂₃, and spreads desertification. Entire ecosystems are collapsing as a result, including ones that we depend upon₂₄. The water cycle is driven by forests, and their loss reduces ordinary rainfall, increases flooding, removes an abundant source of water filtration, and contributes to a rise in water levels.₂₅.

Some regions of the world are increasing their forest cover₁₇; the best from 2000-2020 are Scandinavia (13.8% ), The Balkans (11.0% ) and Baltic States (7.6% )₉. There is an overall trend that developed countries gathered their riches by using up their natural resources, and now, they pay poorer countries to use up theirs instead, whilst they can afford to slowly rebuild their natural environments. But it's not wholly that simple - some rich regions are still burning through what they've got. The regions clearing their forests fastest are Central America (-12.8% ), Africa (-9.1% ) and North America (-2.9% )₉.

For more, see:

• "Deforestation" by Vexen Crabtree (2024).

From 2010 to 2020, Romania restored some of its forest cover, adding 6.4%, this was better than the 2.3% that it restored in the previous decade.

Averages by decade for Romania (for the ranks, lower is better):

Forest Area Change 2000-2020	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Romania:	2.3%	6.4%
World Rank:	55th	⇡  20th
World Avg:	0.6%	-0.7%

2.2. Environmental Performance

#climate_change #energy #sustainability #the_environment

Environmental Performance Higher is better11
Pos.		201811
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
42	Colombia	65.2
43	Hungary	65.0
44	Belarus	65.0
45	Romania	64.8
46	Dominican Rep.	64.7
47	Uruguay	64.7
48	Estonia	64.3
49	Singapore	64.2
	Europe Avg	69.6
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

When it comes to its environmental performance, Romania comes 45th in the world.

The Environmental Performance Index 2018 data includes 24 indicators including air pollution, water and sanitation, biodiversity, ecosystems and environmental health, combined into a single score by country, by the Yale University Center for Environmental Law & Policy.

2.3. Energy to GDP Efficiency

#energy #sustainability #the_environment

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better10
Pos.		2022 Avg10
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
39	Swaziland	0.73
40	Guatemala	0.74
41	Togo	0.74
42	Romania	0.75
43	Egypt	0.76
44	El Salvador	0.79
45	Guinea	0.80
46	UK	0.80
	Europe Avg	1.25
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

Romania is 42nd in the world in terms of energy to GDP efficiency.

GDP per unit of energy consumption is often called 'Energy Intensity'. It's how efficient countries are at producing GDP in terms of primary energy use. It represents primary energy consumption using the substitution method, per unit of gross domestic product (GDP). A lower value means that less energy was used to maintain the country's GDP.

Averages by decade for Romania (for the ranks, lower is better):

Energy to GDP Efficiency	1960s  Average	1970s  Average	1980s  Average	1990s  Average	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Romania:	4.02	4.63	5.02	4.25	1.92	1.00
World Rank:	56th	⇣  64th	⇣  142nd	⇣  146th	⇡  116th	⇡  64th
World Avg:	2.05	2.13	2.10	2.15	1.60	1.30

2.4. International Accords on the Environment

#environmentalism #internationalism

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
103	Honduras	57%
104	Poland	57%
105	Mozambique	57%
106	Romania	57%
107	Slovakia	57%
108	St Lucia	56%
109	Slovenia	56%
110	S. Korea	56%
	Europe Avg	62.7%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Romania is positioned 106th in the world in terms of its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment.

Each country is scored using a formula that takes the date each country took up major international environmental agreements, as a ratio of maximum possible days. The agreements covered are: (1) the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, (2) the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for certain hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides, (3) the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, (4) the Waigani Convention (for those countries that are eligible), (5) the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), (6) the Kyoto Protocol and (7) its successor, the Paris Agreement, (8) the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), (9) the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and finally, (10) the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Romania was one of the 19 countries that signed the Basel Convention on its very first day.

“In 2023, Romania accounted for around 2% of the EU's net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and had achieved a net emissions reduction of 50.8% compared with 2005. The country's total emissions decreased by 30.1% between 2005 and 2023, while its net carbon removals in the land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector increased by 50%. Emissions from sectors covered by the effort-sharing legislation had risen by 8.4% since 2005. In 2023, they were more than three times higher than those from sectors under the EU emissions trading system (ETS), which fell by 68.2% over the same period. Romania has committed to the EU's target of climate neutrality by 2050 (see the trajectory in Figure 1). However, to meet its energy needs, the country still relies mainly on fossil fuels; the deployment of various renewable energy sources for the shift towards a sustainable economy requires further efforts. Romania's recovery and resilience plan dedicates 44% of investments to the green transition, with a focus on industry decarbonisation, sustainable transport, and building renovation.”

EU 2023 Climate Action Strategy₂₆

Averages by decade for Romania (for the ranks, lower is better):

International Accords on the Environment	1970s  Average	1980s  Average	1990s  Average	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Romania:	0%	0%	54%	89%	97%
World Rank:	52nd	⇣  114th	⇡  80th	⇡  25th	⇣  97th
World Avg:	8.5%	23.3%	45.0%	74.4%	90.7%

2.5. Rational Beliefs on the Environment

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better13
Pos.		2011 %13
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
79	Germany	36.1%
80	Montenegro	35.9%
81	Rwanda	35.8%
82	Romania	33.4%
83	Luxembourg	33.3%
84	Togo	33.3%
85	Benin	32.6%
86	Bulgaria	32.5%
	Europe Avg	33.6%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

With regard to the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, Romania comes 82nd in the world. In a 2023 survey, 23% of Romanians identified climate change as one of the four most serious problems facing the world (half the 46% EU average)₂₆. "Most expect national government (40%), the EU (37%), and/or business and industry (33%) to tackle climate change; 18% find it to be a personal responsibility"₂₆.

2.6. Meat Consumption

#animal_rights #animal_welfare #diet #food #health #meat #veganism #vegetarianism

Meat Consumption Lower is better14
Pos.		2021 kg14
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
118	Belgium	66.2
119	Gabon	66.3
120	Sweden	66.9
121	Romania	67.1
122	Malta	67.8
123	Switzerland	68.0
124	Micronesia	70.4
125	Denmark	70.5
	Europe Avg	71.1
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

Romania comes 121st in the world regarding reducing annual meat consumption per person (still low for Europe).

There are five key arguments in favour of vegetarianism which accrue even from partial adoption: (1) Vegetarian diets have notable health advantages over carnivorous diets, especially for heart and cardiovascular issues_27,28,29. (2) It is morally better to avoid killing or harming animals. (3) Plant-based diets use much less water than carnivorous ones, to the extent that agricultural and water management scientists urge governments to encourage people to switch₃₀. (4) Vegetarian food production uses substantially less land_27,31,32. And, (5) vegetarianism is better for the environment than meat-production for emissions, sewerage, pollution and chemicals usage._27,31. A plant-based diet causes 75% less greenhouse gas emissions than a typical carnivorous diet₃₂. The global food industry causes about 1/3 of all planet-heating emissions, and so "to slow the worst climate effects, the United Nations has called for a drastic reduction in meat consumption"₃₂. Despite this, "reducing appetites for carbon-intensive meat and dairy is incredibly hard"₃₃ and as countries get richer, they tend to eat more meat.

On average throughout the 2010s, Romania's rate was 62.9.

2.7. Green Future Index

#climate_change #energy #sustainability #the_environment

Green Future Index Higher is better12
Pos.		2023 Score12
1	Iceland	6.7
2	Finland	6.7
3	Norway	6.4
	...
36	UAE	4.8
37	Morocco	4.7
38	Brazil	4.7
39=	Romania	4.7
39=	Kenya	4.7
41	New Zealand	4.6
42=	Philippines	4.6
42=	Israel	4.6
	Europe Avg	5.6
	World Avg	4.8
q=76.

When it comes to its score on the Green Future Index, Romania is 39th in the world (one of the worst in Europe).

The Green Futures Index (GFI) has been running since 2021, and looks at 23 data sets for over 70 countries, with a focus on effectiveness, policy and planning 'for a low carbon future. It is complementary to existing goals and frameworks for sustainable development'. Datasets include qualitative appraisals and quantitative measurements on carbon emissions across multiple sectors, renewable and nuclear energy, recycling capabilities, green technologies used in building and construction, transport, scientific and industrial green innovations and patent quantities, climate action and climate policies. Each country is then ranked by their final score.₃₄.