About the Index
The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is published biennially by the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy and the Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN). First published in 2006 as a successor to the Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI), the 2024 edition ranks 180 countries.
Methodology
The 2024 EPI uses 58 performance indicators across 11 issue categories grouped under three policy objectives:
| Policy Objective | Issue Categories |
|---|---|
| Environmental Health | Air Quality, Sanitation & Drinking Water, Heavy Metals, Waste Management |
| Ecosystem Vitality | Biodiversity & Habitat, Ecosystem Services, Fisheries, Acid Rain, Agriculture |
| Climate Change | Climate Change Mitigation, Energy, CO2 emissions, GHG emission projections |
Score range: 0 (worst) to 100 (best environmental performance).
The EPI focuses on outcomes rather than inputs — measuring actual environmental quality rather than policies or spending.
India’s Performance
India ranks 176th out of 180 countries with a score of 27.6, placing it among the five worst performers globally. Only Pakistan (177th), Vietnam (178th), Laos (179th), and Myanmar (180th) rank lower.
Category-wise Performance
| Category | India’s Rank | Key Issue |
|---|---|---|
| Air Quality | 177th | PM2.5 levels among highest globally |
| Climate Change | 133rd | Better due to renewable energy push |
| Biodiversity & Habitat | ~170th | High species threat levels |
| Sanitation & Drinking Water | ~155th | Below average access metrics |
| Projected Emissions (by 2050) | 172nd | Coal dependence drives poor projection |
Historical Trend
| Year | Rank | Score | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 177 | 30.57 | 180 |
| 2020 | 168 | 27.6 | 180 |
| 2022 | 180 | 18.9 | 180 |
| 2024 | 176 | 27.6 | 180 |
Regional / BRICS Comparison
| Country | EPI Rank (2024) | EPI Score |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | ~49 | ~49 |
| China | ~116 | ~38 |
| South Africa | ~107 | ~39 |
| Russia | ~78 | ~44 |
| India | 176 | 27.6 |
Key Highlights of Latest Edition
- Estonia topped the 2024 EPI with a score of 75.7 — a surprise result — driven by its 59% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 1990 through a transition away from oil shale
- Top 5: Estonia (1st, 75.7), Luxembourg (2nd), Germany (3rd), Finland (4th), United Kingdom (5th)
- The report found that most countries are failing to meet international biodiversity commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
- India’s heavy dependence on coal (over 70% of electricity generation) drives its poor projected emissions ranking
- India’s air quality remains among the worst globally, with annual average PM2.5 levels far exceeding WHO guidelines
- Despite the low overall ranking, India’s renewable energy push (target: 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030) and net-zero by 2070 commitment are reflected in a relatively better climate change sub-ranking (133rd)
India’s Government Response
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has rejected the EPI methodology, claiming:
- Several indicators are based on unfounded assumptions and unscientific methods
- The projected emissions indicators penalise developing countries for future economic growth
- India’s per capita emissions (about 1.9 tonnes CO2) are far below the global average (~4.7 tonnes) and should be weighted
- The index does not adequately credit India’s achievements in solar energy, forest cover increase, and wildlife conservation
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: EPI issuing bodies (Yale + Columbia), India’s rank, top performer (Estonia), number of indicators (58), three policy objectives, score range Mains GS-3: Environmental conservation — air pollution (NCAP), renewable energy targets, Paris Agreement commitments, net-zero 2070 pledge, coal transition challenges, biodiversity conservation Interview: “India ranks 176th on EPI yet has the lowest per capita emissions among major economies — is the index methodology fair to developing countries?”
