The world's happiest countries are targeting net-negative emissions — despite a growing 'greenlash'

The world's happiest countries are pressing ahead with plans to achieve more than just net zero emissions — even in the face of an intensifying green political backlash on both sides of the Atlantic.

Finland and Denmark are both targeting "net-negative emissions," which scientists say can be achieved when the amount of carbon dioxide drawn out of the atmosphere is greater than the amount that's emitted.

If realized, the two Nordic countries would not only stop contributing to the climate crisis, but would be actively helping to slow the pace of global warming.

Finland, which was recently crowned the world's happiest country for the seventh successive year, has enshrined what is considered one of the world's most ambitious climate targets into law. It is aiming to be the first high-income country to reach net zero emissions in 2035 and net negative by 2040.

Denmark, which the World Happiness Report recognized as the world's second-happiest country, is targeting net zero by 2045 — and net negative by 2050.

Danish Climate Minister Lars Aagaard said the need for negative emissions was clear.

Speaking to CNBC via telephone, he called out critics of the country's target. "If you're saying that then you have to say the next sentence; Well then, I don't want to use any products that emits anything, and I don't want to eat meat and so on."

"I don't think that people will accept such a future. So, for us, negative emissions are needed, and we cannot meet our long-term climate commitments without it," he added.

At the COP28 climate talks in the United Arab Emirates late last year, Denmark, Finland and Panama launched the Group of Negative Emitters (GONE), a coalition of countries seeking to remove more planet-heating carbon dioxide than