Context:
The Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy and the Columbia Center for International Earth Science Information Network released the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) for 2024.
Relevance:
GS III: Environment and Ecology
Dimensions of the Article:
- Overview of the Environmental Performance Index (EPI)
- Challenges Related to the Environmental Performance Index (EPI)
- Key Highlights of the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2024
- India’s Response to the EPI
Overview of the Environmental Performance Index (EPI)
- The Environmental Performance Index (EPI), launched by the World Economic Forum in 2002 under the name Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI), is a biennial assessment tool.
- It measures countries’ efforts to achieve international environmental policy targets, including the U.N. sustainability goals, the Paris Climate Agreement (2015), and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
- Structure: The 2024 EPI incorporates 58 performance indicators categorized into 11 issues, focusing on three main policy goals:
- Environmental Health
- Ecosystem Vitality
- Climate Change
- The EPI team converts raw environmental data into scores that rank countries on a 0 to 100 scale, with higher scores indicating better performance.
Importance of the Environmental Performance Index (EPI)
- The EPI promotes global collaboration and knowledge sharing, aiming to achieve a more environmentally secure and equitable world.
- It underscores the need for strong governance frameworks, including transparency, accountability, and effective policymaking, which are essential for implementing and enforcing environmental regulations.
- Adequate financial resources are crucial for initiating and maintaining environmental initiatives, allowing nations to invest in sustainable practices and infrastructure.
- Nations with higher levels of human development, such as education, healthcare, and overall well-being, tend to prioritize environmental sustainability and are more capable of implementing effective measures.
- Well-structured environmental regulations, along with robust enforcement mechanisms, are vital for mitigating environmental degradation and ensuring compliance with sustainability standards.
Challenges Related to the Environmental Performance Index (EPI)
- Measuring biodiversity loss or ecosystem health can be challenging due to complex dynamics and the lack of standardized methodologies across different regions.
- Some developing countries may lack efficient monitoring systems or face challenges in collecting comprehensive environmental data, resulting in incomplete assessments.
- Economic development may sometimes be prioritized over environmental protection, leading to potential conflicts or resistance in adopting EPI recommendations.
- Countries heavily reliant on resource extraction or fossil fuel-based industries may find it difficult to transition to more sustainable practices.
- Developing nations might struggle to allocate sufficient funds or expertise for environmental projects, and developed countries may not provide adequate financial support for mitigation.
- Addressing transboundary issues like air pollution, water management, or wildlife protection often necessitates multilateral agreements and collaborative efforts.
Key Highlights of the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2024
- Leading Nation:
- Estonia leads the index by achieving a 59% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels.
- Top Performers:
- Only five countries — Estonia, Finland, Greece, Timor-Leste, and the United Kingdom — are on track to reduce GHG emissions to reach net zero by 2050.
- Lowest Performing Regions:
- Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia rank lowest among the eight regions evaluated.
- Progress and Challenges:
- Except for the United Kingdom, other countries identified in the 2022 EPI report as being on track to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 have shown either slow progress (e.g., the United States) or increasing emissions (e.g., China, India, Russia).
- India’s Ranking:
- India ranks 176th out of 180 countries with a score of 27.6 points, ranking higher only than Pakistan, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar.
- India performs poorly in categories such as air quality, emissions, and biodiversity conservation, primarily due to its heavy reliance on coal, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
- India is ranked 177th in air quality and 172nd in projected emissions by 2025.
- Transboundary Pollution:
- In South Asia, India is the largest emitter of transboundary pollution, impacting neighboring Bangladesh and affecting residents’ well-being.
- Renewable Energy Investments:
- Despite its low overall ranking, India fares better in the climate change category (133rd), attributed to investments in renewable energy and a commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
- Achieving these goals will require an additional USD 160 billion annually in climate change mitigation investments.
- New Metrics:
- The 2024 EPI introduces pilot indicators to measure the effectiveness and stringency of protected areas.
India’s Response to the EPI
- Extended Timeframe:
- India contends that the calculations should consider a longer period (10 to 20 years) and include renewable energy capacity and usage, additional carbon sinks, and energy efficiency measures implemented by respective countries.
- Rate of Change:
- The calculation of projected GHG emissions by 2050 is based on the average rate of change in emissions over the last 10 years, which India deems inadequate.
- Carbon Sinks:
- India’s forests and wetlands, which act as crucial carbon sinks, have not been considered in the projected GHG emissions trajectory up to 2050 in the EPI 2024.
- Ecosystem Condition:
- While the index measures the extent of ecosystems, it does not evaluate their condition or productivity.
- Exclusion of Critical Indicators:
- The index does not include indicators such as agro-biodiversity, soil health, food loss, and waste, which are crucial for developing countries with large agrarian populations.
-Source: The Hindu
