• The newly released Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2022, measured by Yale and Columbia universities, ranks India at the bottom position among 180 countries.
• The 2022 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) provides a data-driven summary of the state of sustainability around the world.
• Using 40 performance indicators across 11 issue categories, the EPI ranks 180 countries on climate change performance, environmental health, and ecosystem vitality.
• These indicators provide a gauge at a national scale of how close countries are to established environmental policy targets.
• The EPI offers a scorecard that highlights leaders and laggards in environmental performance and provides practical guidance for countries that aspire to move toward a sustainable future.
• The EPI, a biennial index, was started in 2002 as Environmental Sustainability Index by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy and the Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network.

Highlights:

• Denmark tops the 2022 rankings — an achievement rooted in strong performance across nearly all issues tracked by the EPI, with notable leadership in efforts to promote a clean energy future and sustainable agriculture.
• The United Kingdom and Finland place 2^nd and 3^rd, both earning high scores for slashing greenhouse gas emissions in recent years.
• The United States places 20^th out of 22 wealthy democracies in the Global West and 43^rd
• With a paltry score of 18.9, India’s 180^th ranking comes after Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Myanmar.
• India has also scored low on rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness, according to EPI.
• India was ranked 168^th in EPI-2020, with a score of 27.6.
• In EPI-2020, Denmark has been ranked first in environmental health and sustainability.

Model Question :

Q. With reference to the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2022, consider the following statements :

1. The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is a biennial index started by World Economic Forum.
2. India is one of the top ten countries among other developed countries in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2022.

Which of the statements given above is /are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer : A

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