Environmental Performance Index (EPI)

• The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is a tool used to rank countries based on their performance in environmental health, ecosystem vitality, and climate change efforts.
• It provides a data-driven overview of sustainability efforts across the globe.
• The EPI helps governments and organizations evaluate how well countries are meeting environmental targets.
• The index is developed by Yale University’s Centre for Environmental Law & Policy and Columbia University’s CIESIN.
• It is released every two years in collaboration with the World Economic Forum.

Objectives of EPI

• The EPI aims to assess national environmental policy outcomes.
• It encourages countries to improve their environmental performance.
• It helps countries compare their progress with others.
• The EPI promotes transparency and accountability in environmental governance.

Main EPI Categories

• The EPI uses 58 indicators divided into three main areas: Environmental Health, Ecosystem Vitality, and Climate Change.
• Environmental Health accounts for 40% of the total score and focuses on how pollution affects human health.
• This includes indicators like air quality, access to clean drinking water and sanitation, and exposure to heavy metals like lead.
• Ecosystem Vitality makes up 60% of the total and reflects how well countries manage their natural resources.
• Indicators in this category include climate change mitigation, biodiversity protection, forests, fisheries, and agriculture.
• The climate change performance is assessed by looking at emissions trends, renewable energy use, and policies to reach net-zero goals.

How Countries Are Scored

• Each country receives a score from 0 to 100.
• A score of 100 means the best environmental performance, while 0 means the worst.
• The scores are calculated using standardized data to ensure fair comparison between countries.

Highlights from EPI 2024

• In 2024, Estonia ranked 1st in the world with a score of 75.7.
• Estonia reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 59% since 1990 and aims for 100% renewable electricity by 2030.
• Luxembourg ranked 2nd with a score of 75.1 due to strong ecosystem protection—over 55% of its land is protected.
• Germany ranked 3rd with a score of 74.5, thanks to investments in renewable energy and efficient waste management.
• Finland ranked 4th with a score of 73.8 for its effective environmental laws.
• The United Kingdom came 5th, scoring 72.6, due to significant progress in climate change policies.

India’s Performance in EPI 2024

• India ranked 176th out of 180 countries with an EPI score of 27.6.
• India's performance was poor in areas like air quality, emissions, and biodiversity conservation.
• One of the key reasons is its high dependence on coal, leading to air pollution and carbon emissions.
• India also struggles with ecosystem degradation and low protection of biodiversity areas.
• India’s air quality rank is 177th, above only Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal.
• For projected greenhouse gas emissions, India ranks 172nd.
• In Ecosystem Vitality, India ranks 170th.
• For Environmental Health, India is again at 177th.
• In Climate Change, India ranks 133rd, which is slightly better due to its renewable energy investments and net-zero pledge for 2070.

Challenges for India

• India is the largest contributor of trans-boundary air pollution in South Asia.
• It affects air quality in neighbouring countries like Bangladesh.
• India needs an estimated USD 160 billion annually to meet its climate goals.

Regional Highlights

• The best-performing regions in EPI 2024 are Western Europe and Eastern Europe.
• The worst-performing regions are Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia.

Key Insights from 2024

• A new focus on Biodiversity and Habitat shows that many protected areas are affected by human activity.
• Only five countries—Estonia, Finland, Greece, Timor-Leste, and the United Kingdom—are on track to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Criticism of EPI

• Countries like India and China have raised concerns about the EPI methodology.
• Some critics say the EPI puts too much weight on climate policy and emissions data.
• Others argue that it’s unfair to compare developing countries directly with rich nations.

Why EPI is Important?

• The EPI pushes countries to improve their environmental performance.
• It supports policymaking based on evidence and real data.
• The index helps researchers, citizens, and organizations track progress and raise awareness.
• It encourages countries to meet international commitments like the Paris Agreement.