The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is a global positioning framework that positions nations on their environmental health and sustainability. It was begun in 2002 by World Economic Forum in relationship with the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy and the Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network.
It is a biennial index that aims to supplement the environmental targets of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and provide a data- driven summary of the state of sustainability around the world.
The present year index is based on 40 performance indicators grouped into 11 issue categories with an objective of environmental health, ecosystem vitality and climate change.
The EPI report states, “EPI positions 180 countries on climate change performance, environmental health, and ecosystem vitality . These markers give a check at a public size of how close nations are to laid out ecological strategy targets.”
The report expresses that creating fundamental foundation like clean drinking water and sterilization, lessening surrounding air contamination, and controlling risky waste for a healthy environment.
What’s the situation?
Out of 180 nations that have been positioned, India positioned last 180th with 18.9 scores. The position of India comes after Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Myanmar. According to the EPI, India is scored falling short based on law and order, control of debasement and government adequacy. In 2020, India got 168th position.
Denmark beat the 2022 rundown followed by the United Kingdom and Finland. These nations have shown astounding administration in advancing maintainability and cutting ozone depleting substance emanations and advancing efficient power energy.
Nations with low scores are proposed to take drives to control issues like environmental change and air and water quality. Afghanistan and Nepal are among a couple of nations that have been recognized as slow pokes.
Why is India rejecting the EPI ranking?
The Central government rejected the EPI-2022 and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change stated that the index “has many indicators based on unfounded assumptions”. Also, some of the indicators used in the method are “extrapolated and based on surmises and unscientific methods”.
The government further said that one of the indicators used in this report is projected greenhouse gas emissions in 2050, which calculates the average rate of change in emission over the last decade. It also includes the amount of renewable energy capacity and use, additional carbon sinks, and energy efficiency of countries.
The government said that the forests and wetlands of India are not considered because these are carbon sinks and are significant while calculating the parameters. The center further stated that “Historical data on the lowest emission trajectory has been ignored in the above computation. The weight of indicators in which the country was performing well has been reduced and reasons for the change in assignment of weights has not been explained in the report.”
Indian government further said that the country has achieved 40% of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel-based sources.
On water quality, water use efficiency and waste generation per capita indicators, the center said that these were not taken into parameters that are equally important for sustainable consumption and production.
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