US ranks 24th in environmental performance index | Indiana Environmental Reporter (2024)

The U.S. was beat out by 23 countries in a new analysis ranking worldwide performance on sustainability issues.

Researchers from Yale University and Columbia University ranked the U.S. 24th out of 180 countries in the Environmental Performance Index 2020, an analysis of 32 environmental performance indicators.

Denmark, Luxembourg and Switzerland took the first three spots.

The researchers found that wealth and the pursuit of wealth were related to a nation’s environmental ranking.

Economically prosperous countries were found to have better environmental policy results. At the same time, countries that were in the pursuit of economic prosperity, like those beginning to industrialize and urbanize, often had more pollution.

The researchers said data indicated that nations that are governed well can often find a balance between sustainability and economic security.

The U.S. ranked three spots higher than it did in the last Index, but had a lower environmental performance index score. Nearly every one of the top 25 countries on the list had a lower EPI score compared to 2018.

US ranks 24th in environmental performance index | Indiana Environmental Reporter (2024)

FAQs

What is the rank of environmental index? ›

India is ranked 180th among 180 countries in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2022. India is ranked after Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Myanmar, with a trifling score of 18.9. According to EPI, India also ranks poorly in terms of rule of law, corruption control, and government performance.

Is a high EPI score good? ›

In general, high scorers exhibit long-standing policies and programs to protect public health, preserve natural resources, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

How do you calculate environmental performance index? ›

The EPI identifies scores for several core environmental policy categories and measures how close countries come to meet them. The index is constructed as a composite index, based on sixteen highly aggregated indicators which are weighted differently and which are assessed against absolute targets.

What is the EPI score? ›

The 2022 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranks 180 countries on 40 performance indicators in the following 11 issue categories: air quality, sanitation and drinking water, heavy metals, waste management, biodiversity and habitat, ecosystem services, fisheries, acid rain, agriculture, water resources, and climate ...

What is the United States ranked in the environment? ›

The United States falls five ranks to 57th in this year's CCPI, with an overall very low rating. As in the previous year, the US receives a very low in the GHG Emissions, Renewable Energy, and Energy Use categories. However, it receives a medium in Climate Policy.

Which country has the highest Environmental Performance Index? ›

Issue categories include: climate mitigation, air quality, sanitation and drinking water, waste management, biodiversity, agriculture, and more. Among the 180 countries ranked in the index, Denmark leads the 2022 EPI with a score of 77.90, followed by the United Kingdom and Finland.

What is the highest EPI score? ›

The EPI comes out in even-numbered years, which means as of 2023, the most recent scores come from 2022. That year, the countries with the highest EPI were Denmark, the United Kingdom, Finland, Malta, and Sweden. The highest EPI of these, for Denmark, was 77.90.

What is the cleanest country in the world? ›

Denmark (EPI Score: 77.9)

With an EPI Score of 77.9, Denmark ranks first in the list of the cleanest countries globally. The country's efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable practices are the prime reasons for high EPI score.

Which country has the lowest EPI? ›

In the 2022 EPI rankings, India has obtained the lowest position among all nations, scoring only 18.9 points.

WHO publishes environmental performance index? ›

Environmental Performance Index is a biennial index prepared by Yale University and Columbia University in collaboration with the World Economic Forum. This index was first published in 2002 designed to supplement the environmental targets set forth in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

What is the environmental impact score? ›

The “Overall Product Environment Impact Score” is a cumulative score of 14 impact factors* measured at every stage of a product's life cycle, from ingredient sourcing, packaging production and manufacturing, to customer usage (like the average quantity of hot water used during showering), biodegradability and end of ...

How does environmental performance index measure development? ›

These indicators measure how close countries are to meeting internationally established sustainability targets for specific environmental issues. With a methodology refined over two decades that builds on the most recent data, the EPI enables decision-makers to recognize the drivers of top-tier performance.

What is the EPI score of China? ›

Country Scorecard
ComponentRankEPI Score
Filter: All Categories Acidification Agriculture Air Quality Biodiversity Climate Change Ecosystem Services Environmental Performance Index Fisheries Objectives Water Resources
EPI16028.40
Ecosystem Vitality16924.50
Biodiversity1749.40
52 more rows

How do you rank environmental impacts? ›

You will assign a rank based on your judgment of the serious- ness of the effects of this chemical or substance. Exposure is the amount of material with which workers, the community, or the environment comes into contact. The amount is determined by both severity and time of contact.

Which countries have the highest environmental standards? ›

The top 10 greenest countries are as follows:
  • 1) Sweden. Coming in at first place is Sweden. ...
  • 2) Denmark. Denmark is considered to be a pioneer in promoting sustainability, so it is no surprise that it ranks so highly. ...
  • 3) United Kingdom. ...
  • 4) Finland. ...
  • 5) Switzerland. ...
  • 6) France. ...
  • 7) Costa Rica. ...
  • 8) Iceland.
Mar 28, 2024

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