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The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is a method of quantifying and numerically marking the environmental performance of a state's policies. This index was developed from the Pilot Environmental Performance Index, first published in 2002, and designed to supplement the environmental targets set forth in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

The EPI was preceded by the Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI), published between 1999 and 2005. Both indices were developed by Yale University (Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy) and Columbia University (Center for International Earth Science Information Network) in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. The ESI was developed to evaluate environmental sustainability relative to the paths of other countries. Due to a shift in focus by the teams developing the ESI, the EPI uses outcome-oriented indicators, then working as a benchmark index that can be more easily used by policy makers, environmental scientists, advocates and the general public. Other leading indices like the Global Green Economy Index (GGEI) provide an integrated measure of the environmental, social and economic dynamics of national economies. The GGEI utilizes EPI data for the environmental dimension of the index while also providing a performance assessment of efficiency sectors (e.g. transport, buildings, energy), investment, green innovation and national leadership around climate change.

The Environmental Performance Index for the year 2020, rank 180 countries. The top 5 countries are Denmark, Luxembourg, Switzerland, United Kingdom and France.

Methodology

EPI calculation variables change often as can be seen below. This should be taken into account when observing country performance through several reports, as it can lead to score and ranking changes founded just on methodology modification.

2018 variables

Are largely similar to those from 2016, but have changed in details and some weights. Notably environmental Health is now weighted at 40% and Ecosystem Vitality at 60%.

EPI scores

2020

The Environmental Performance Index for the year 2020 ranks 180 countries.

Top 30 countries and score

1.  Denmark 82.5
2.  Luxembourg 82.3
3.   Switzerland 81.5
4.  United Kingdom 81.3
5.  France 80
6.  Austria 79.6
7.  Finland 78.9
8.  Sweden 78.7
9.  Norway 77.7
10.  Germany 77.2
11.  Netherlands 75.3
12.  Japan 75.1
13.  Australia 74.9
14.  Spain 74.3
15.  Belgium 73.3
16.  Ireland 72.8
17.  Iceland 72.3
18.  Slovenia 72
19.  New Zealand 71.3
20.  Canada 71
21.  Czech Republic 71
22.  Italy 71
23.  Malta 70.7
24.  United States of America 69.3
25.  Greece 69.1
26.  Slovakia 68.3
27.  Portugal 67
28.  South Korea 66.5
29.  Israel 65.8
30.  Estonia 65.3
31.  Cyprus 64.8
32.  Romania 64.7

2018

Rank	Country	EPI score	Environmental Health (40% weight)	Ecosystem Vitality (60% weight)
1	Switzerland	87.42	93.57	83.32
2	France	83.95	95.71	76.11
3	Denmark	81.60	98.20	70.53
4	Malta	80.90	93.80	72.30
5	Sweden	80.51	94.41	71.24
6	United Kingdom	79.89	96.03	69.13
7	Luxembourg	79.12	95.07	68.48
8	Austria	78.97	86.38	74.03
9	Ireland	78.77	95.92	67.34
10	Finland	78.64	99.35	64.83
11	Iceland	78.57	98.41	65.34
12	Spain	78.39	94.21	67.85
13	Germany	78.37	88.68	71.50
14	Norway	77.49	97.86	63.91
15	Belgium	77.38	89.37	69.39
16	Italy	76.96	85.88	71.02
17	New Zealand	75.96	95.96	62.63
18	Netherlands	75.46	92.26	64.25
19	Israel	75.01	94.14	62.25
20	Japan	74.69	92.99	62.48
21	Australia	74.12	97.95	58.23
22	Greece	73.60	91.03	61.98
23	Taiwan	72.84	69.85	74.83
24	Cyprus	72.60	87.96	62.37
25	Canada	72.18	97.51	55.29
26	Portugal	71.91	90.47	59.53
27	United States of America	71.19	93.91	56.04
28	Slovakia	70.60	63.87	75.08
29	Lithuania	69.33	72.57	67.18
30	Bulgaria	67.85	69.60	66.68

EPI report archive

Below is a list of links to the official archive of past reports

• 2016 EPI full report regional rankings and scores (pages 111 - 114)
• 2014 EPI full report regional rankings and scores (pages 121 - 123)
• 2010 EPI summary rankings and scores are on page 6. Includes pilot tend EPI
• 2010 EPI summary rankings and scores are on page 6
• 2008 EPI summary includes rankings and scores
• 2006 EPI pilot summary rankings and scores are on page 6

Criticisms

The methodology for the EPI has been criticized for its arbitrary choice of metrics which could introduce bias, and its poor performance as an indicator for environmental sustainability. Additional criticisms center on the EPI's lack of specific policy suggestions, and the index's weighting biases against data deficient countries that has led to the overlooking of ecological progress in developing countries. Below is a quote from the abstract:

Jordan spent 2001–2006 in a node represented by lower life expectancy due to particulate matter emissions (PME), but, from 2007 to 2010, the country shifted to a node with a lower PME magnitude—indicating a positive shift in overall environmental sustainability. By following the EPI ranking, the policymakers in Jordan may have assumed that their decisions between 2006 and 2008 led to a deterioration in environmental sustainability, when, in fact, the inconsistent nature of the weighting process involved in the EPI rankings is a likely cause...

See also

• Environmental Vulnerability Index (EVI)
• Consumer product labeling

References

1. Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy, and Center for International Earth Science Information Network at Columbia University. "Environmental Performance Index". Retrieved 16 March 2008. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
2. Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy / Center for International Earth Science Information Network at Columbia University. "2008 Environmental Performance Index Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2008. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help) See Executive Summary, pp. 32-35 for a detailed comparison between the ESI 2005, the EPI 2006 and the EPI 2008.
3. "2016 Global Green Economy Index (GGEI)" (PDF).
4. "2020 EPI Results". Environmental Performance Index. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
5. "EPI 2018 variables".
6. "2020 EPI Results". Environmental Performance Index. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
7. "2020 EPI Results". Environmental Performance Index. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
8. ^ Kanmani, Aiyshwariya; Obringer, Renee; Rachunok, Benjamin; Nateghi, Roshanak (11 January 2020). "Assessing Global Environmental Sustainability Via an Unsupervised Clustering Framework". Sustainability. 12 (2): 563. doi:10.3390/su12020563. Retrieved 15 May 2021.

External links

• Yale University – EPI – A collaboration between Yale and Columbia Universities
• Yale University – YCELP – Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy
• 2018 Environmental Performance Index

• International rankings
• Sustainability metrics and indices