OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Iceland 2014

The OECD Environmental Performance Review for Iceland 2014 was published on the 4 september 2014.

Iceland has one of the world’s most pristine natural environments and its glaciers, volcanoes and hot underground springs bring major economic benefits via renewable energy and tourism. Continued growth in power generation for aluminium smelting and in tourist numbers must be managed carefully to preserve these natural assets, the report said.

The OECD’s third Environmental Performance Review of Iceland noted that the country’s electricity output had more than doubled since 2000 to nearly five times the amount needed by the population of 320,000, mainly to fuel three foreign-owned aluminium smelters. The number of tourists drawn by Iceland’s rugged landscapes had also more than doubled in the same period to around 700,000 visitors a year. Both trends put pressure on the environment.

'The combination of renewable energy and spectacular natural tourist attractions create opportunities for Iceland to play a pioneering role in the world’s transition to green growth', said OECD Environment Director Simon Upton, presenting the report in Reykjavik. 'Yet these assets must be well-managed and the conflicts fully addressed between these competing uses of land'.

Website: OECD iLibrary http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/

OECD: Environment: Environmental performance review: Iceland 2014 http://www.oecd.org/environment/iceland2014.htm

OECD: Press Release, 04.09.14: Environmental performance review: Iceland 2014 http://www.oecd.org/newsroom/iceland-must-balance-growth-in-power-and-tourism-industries-with-nature-conservation.htm

---