India Ranked 177 in Environmental Performance Index (EPI)

January 24, 2018

India has been ranked 177 among 180 countries in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) – 2018. This index has been developed by Yale University and Columbia University in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. This report has been released on 23 January, 2018 on the sidelines of World Economic Forum meet in Davos.

Top and Bottom Five Countries in 2018 EPI

  • Top 5 countries are Switzerland, France, Denmark, Malta and Sweden
  • To bottom countries are Nepal, India, Congo, Bangladesh, Burundi

About the Index

Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is calculated on the basis of data gathered from 24 individual metrics of environmental performance. These 24 individual metrics are then aggregated into a hierarchy that begins with 10 major environmental issues categories.

  1. Air Quality (household solid fuels and PM2.5 exposure)
  2. Water & Sanitation
  3. Heavy Metals (lead exposure)
  4. Biodiversity & Habitat
  5. Forests (tree cover loss)
  6. Fisheries
  7. Climate & Energy (CO2, Methane and Black Carbon Emissions)
  8. Air Pollution (SO2 and NOx emission)
  9. Water resources (wastewater treatment)
  • Agriculture (sustainable practice)

The above 10 environmental issue categories are then divided into two policy objectives viz. Environment health and Ecosystem Vitality. The overall EPI is based on a country’s performance in these 10 issue categories and two policy objectives. High rank in the EPI shows long-standing commitments to protecting public health, preserving natural resources and decoupling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from economic activity.

The 2018 Report Key Notes About India

  • The report has ranked India as fourth worst country worldwide in curbing environmental pollution. India has slipped from 141st position in 2016 report.
  • The low rank of emerging economies including China (120) and India (177) indicates strain population pressures and rapid economic growth impose on the environment.
  • As per the report, substantial populations still suffer from poor air quality, most notably in India, China, and Pakistan (169).

Report also notes that the low scores on the EPI are indicative of the need for national sustainability efforts on a number of fronts, especially cleaning up air quality, protecting biodiversity and reducing GHG (green house gas) emissions.

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