As of 2019, which country was the world's only carbon-negative nation?

Every person on the planet has a carbon footprint, which is defined as the amount of greenhouse gas that is directly or indirectly attributed to an individual's daily activities. Driving, flying, buying and using electronic devices, and even consuming meat can all contribute to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

A carbon negative country is a state that removes more greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere than it emits. Bhutan, a small landlocked country in the Eastern Himalayas, currently qualifies as the only carbon negative country in the world. This feat is doubly impressive due to its location; it is sandwiched between China, with the largest carbon footprint on earth, and India, which comes in fourth.

How has this been accomplished? By placing a high value on its culture and protecting the environment. Bhutan's economy is based on agriculture, forestry, tourism and the sale of hydroelectric power to India. The government has made sustainability a top priority; the country aims to have net-zero waste and greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. To this end, 72% of the land is dedicated to forest cover. There are so many trees that Bhutan has become a “carbon sink” for 6 million tons of CO2.

About twelve countries are carbon-neutral meaning their production of greenhouse gases is equal to their consumption. Approximately 98% of the countries on earth are carbon-positive, meaning that they produce more greenhouse gas than they remove from the atmosphere.