The Environmental Performance Index provides a ranking that shines light on how each country manages environmental issues. The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranks how well countries perform on high-priority environmental issues in two broad policy areas: protection of human health from environmental harm and protection of ecosystems. Within these two policy objectives the EPI scores country performance in 11 issue areas comprised of 32 indicators. Indicators in the EPI measure how close countries are to meeting internationally established targets or, in the absence of agreed-upon targets, how they compare to the range of observed countries.
Note: In many cases the EPI variables lack actual observations and rely on imputation. Please refer to the original documentation on more information about this. Also, some values (usually the value 0) are very unlikely, please use your judgement whether to treat these as the value 0 or as ``Data missing''.
The values on the EPI, Policy Objectives, and Issue Categories are not comparable over time, therefore, this compilation only includes data on these variables from the latest release. The raw data on the 32 indicators, however, are comparable over time and, therefore, time-series are included.
Last updated by source: 2022-06-06
| Dataset type: | Other |
| Dataset level: | Country |
(Wolf et al., 2022)
Agriculture Issue Category consists of the Sustainable Nitrogen Management Index, which measures the Euclidean distance from an ideal point with optimal nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and crop yield. The issue category varies from 0 to 100.
More about this variableAir Quality Issue Category consists of three indicators: 1) Household air pollution (HAP), measured with the number of age-standardized disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) lost per 100,000 persons due to the health risk posed by the incomplete combustion of solid fuels. It is log-transformed and given 40% weight in the aggregation. 2) Ambient particulate matter pollution, measured as the PM2.5 exposure using the number of age-standardized disability-adjusted life-years lost per 100,000 persons (DALY rate) due to exposure to fine air particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5). It is log-transformed and given 55% weight in the aggregation. 3) Ozone exposure, measured by the number of age-standardized disability-adjusted life-years lost per 100,000 persons (DALY rate) due to exposure to ground-level ozone pollution. It is log-transformed and given 5% weight in the aggregation. The issue category varies from 0 to 100.
More about this variablePollution Emissions Issue Category consists of 2 indicators: 1) The SO2 growth rate, calculated as the average annual rate of increase or decrease in SO2 over the years 2005-2014. It is then adjusted for economic trends to isolate change due to policy rather than economic fluctuation. First, the EPI team calculates Spearman's correlation coefficient between SO2 emissions and GDP over a ten-year period. Second, they regress logged SO2 emissions over ten years to find a slope. Third, they calculate an unadjusted average annual growth rate in SO2 emissions. Fourth, they adjust the negative growth rates by a factor of 1 - the correlation coefficient. 2) The NOX growth rate, calculated as the average annual rate of increase or decrease in NOX over the years 2005-2014. It is then adjusted for economic trends to isolate change due to policy rather than economic fluctuation. First, the EPI team calculates Spearman's correlation coefficient between NOX emissions and GDP over a ten-year period. Second, they regress logged NOX emissions over ten years to find a slope. Third, they calculate an unadjusted average annual growth rate in NOX emissions. Fourth, they adjust the negative growth rates by a factor of 1 - the correlation coefficient. Both indicators are given equal weight in the aggregation. The issue category varies from 0 to 100.
More about this variableThe black carbon growth rate, which makes up 5% of the Climate Change Issue Category, is calculated as the average annual rate of increase or decrease in black carbon over the years 2005-2014. It is then adjusted for economic trends to isolate change due to policy rather than economic fluctuation. Original source: Community Emissions Data Systems. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableBiodiversity and Habitat Issue Category consists of 7 indicators: 1) The terrestrial biome protection (national weights) indicator. It is calculated by first taking proportions of the area of each of a country’s biome types that are covered by protected areas and then constructing a weighted sum of the protection percentages for all biomes within that country. The protection percentages are weighted according to the prevalence of each biome type within that country. This indicator evaluates a country's efforts to achieve 17% protection for all biomes within its borders, as per Aichi Target 11. It is given 20% weight in the aggregation. 2) The terrestrial biome protection (global weights) indicator, where protection percentages are weighted according to the global prevalence of each biome type. This indicator evaluates a country’s contribution toward the global 17% protection goal. It is given 20% weight in the aggregation. 3) The marine protected areas indicator, measured as a percentage of a country’s total exclusive economic zone (EEZ) designated as marine protected areas (MPAs). Because each country may have multiple EEZs, the summed area of MPAs is divided by the summed EEZ. It is given 20% weight in the aggregation. 4) The Protected Areas Representativeness Index (PARI), which measures ecological representativeness as the proportion of biologically scaled environmental diversity included in a country's terrestrial protected areas. The measure relies on remote sensing, biodiversity informatics, and global modeling of fine-scaled variation in biodiversity composition for plant, vertebrate, and invertebrate species. It is given 10% weight in the aggregation. 5) Species Habitat Index (SHI) estimates potential population losses, as well as regional and global extinction risks of individual species, using habitat loss as a proxy. The SHI indicator measures the proportion of suitable habitat within a country that remains intact for each species in that country relative to a baseline set in the year 2001. It is given 10% weight in the aggregation. 6) Species Protection Index (SPI) evaluates the species-level ecological representativeness of each country's protected area network. The SPI metric uses remote sensing data, global biodiversity informatics, and integrative models to map suitable habitat for over 30,000 terrestrial vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant species at high resolutions. It is given 10% weight in the aggregation. 7) The Biodiversity Habitat Index (BHI), which estimates the effects of habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation on the expected retention of terrestrial biodiversity. It is given 10% weight in the aggregation. The issue category varies from 0 to 100.
More about this variableBiodiversity Habitat Index (BHI) estimates the effects of habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation on the expected retention of terrestrial biodiversity. Original source: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableClimate Change Issue Category consists of 8 indicators: 1) The CO2 growth rate, calculated as the average annual rate of increase or decrease in raw carbon dioxide emissions over the years 2008-2017. It is then adjusted for economic trends to isolate change due to policy rather than economic fluctuation. It is given 55% weight in the aggregation. 2) The CH4 growth rate, calculated as the average annual rate of increase or decrease in raw methane emissions over the years 2008-2017. It is then adjusted for economic trends to isolate change due to policy rather than economic fluctuation. It is given 15% weight in the aggregation. 3) The F-gas growth rate, calculated as the average annual rate of increase or decrease in raw fluorinated gas emissions over the years 2008-2017. It is then adjusted for economic trends to isolate change due to policy rather than economic fluctuation. It is given 10% weight in the aggregation. 4) The N2O growth rate, calculated as the average annual rate of increase or decrease in raw nitrous oxide emissions over the years 2008-2017. It is then adjusted for economic trends to isolate change due to policy rather than economic fluctuation. It is given 5% weight in the aggregation. 5) The black carbon growth rate, calculated as the average annual rate of increase or decrease in black carbon over the years 2005-2014. It is then adjusted for economic trends to isolate change due to policy rather than economic fluctuation. It is given 5% weight in the aggregation. 6) Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per capita in the year 2017. First, the EPI team calculates total greenhouse gas emissions, applying Global Warming Potentials to convert all units to Gg of CO2-equivalents. Second, they calculate GHG emissions per capita (GHP) as the GHG emissions divided by population (POP). It is log-transformed and given 2.5% weight in the aggregation. 7) CO2 emissions from land cover change, calculated over the years 2001-2015. First, the EPI team regresses logged CO2 emissions from land cover change (LULC) over 15 years to find a slope. Then, they calculate an unadjusted average annual growth rate in these CO2 emissions. It is given 2.5% weight in the aggregation. 8) The greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity growth rate indicator, which serves as a signal of countries' progress in decoupling emissions from economic growth. The EPI team calculates an annual average growth rate in GHG emissions per unit of GDP over the years 2008-2017. This indicator highlights the need for action on climate change mitigation in countries at all income levels. It is given 5% weight in the aggregation. The issue category varies from 0 to 100.
More about this variableThe CO2 (carbon dioxide) growth rate, which makes up 55% of the Climate Change Issue Category, is calculated as the average annual rate of increase or decrease in raw carbon dioxide emissions over the years 2008-2017. It is then adjusted for economic trends to isolate change due to policy rather than economic fluctuation. Original source: Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableThe CH4 (methane) growth rate, which makes up 15% of the Climate Change Issue Category, is calculated as the average annual rate of increase or decrease in raw methane emissions over the years 2008-2017. It is then adjusted for economic trends to isolate change due to policy rather than economic fluctuation. Original source: Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableEcosystem Services Issue Category consists of 3 indicators: 1) Tree cover loss, measured as a five-year moving average of the percentage of forest lost from the extent of forest cover in the reference year 2000. They define a forest as any land area with over 30% canopy cover. It is log-transformed, ln(x + α), α = 9.70E-07, and given 90% weight in the aggregation. 2) Grassland loss, measured as a five-year moving average of percentage of gross losses in grassland areas compared to the 1992 reference year. It is log-transformed, ln(x + α), α = 4.45E-06, and given 5% weight in the aggregation. 3) Wetland loss, measured as a five-year moving average of percentage of gross losses in wetland areas compared to the 1992 reference year. It is log-transformed, ln(x + α), α = 2.47E-06, and given 5% weight in the aggregation. The issue category varies from 0 to 100.
More about this variableEnvironmental Health Policy Objective measures how well countries are protecting their populations from environmental health risks. It comprises 40% of the total EPI score and consists of 4 issue categories: Air Quality (50%), Sanitation and Drinking Water (40%), Heavy Metals (5%), and Waste Management (5%). The policy objective varies from 0 to 100.
More about this variableThe 2020 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) scores 180 countries on 32 performance indicators across 11 issue categories related to environmental health and ecosystem vitality. The 2020 EPI is a composite index. The EPI researchers begin by gathering data on 32 individual metrics of environmental performance. These metrics are aggregated into a hierarchy beginning with 11 issue categories: Air Quality, Sanitation and Drinking Water, Heavy Metals, Waste Management, Biodiversity and Habitat, Ecosystem Services, Fisheries, Climate Change, Pollution Emissions, Water Resources, and Agriculture. These issue categories are then combined into 2 policy objectives, Environmental Health and Ecosystem Vitality, and then finally consolidated into the overall EPI. To allow for meaningful comparisons, before aggregation the EPI researchers construct scores for each of the 32 indicators, placing them onto a common scale where 0 indicates worst performance and 100 indicates best performance. How far a country is from achieving international targets of sustainability determines its placement on this scale. Note: The EPI scores are not comparable over time, therefore, this dataset only includes the EPI scores from the latest release.
More about this variableEcosystem Vitality Policy Objective measures how well countries are preserving, protecting, and enhancing ecosystems and the services they provide. It comprises 60% of the total EPI score and consists of 7 issue categories: Biodiversity and Habitat (25%), Ecosystem Services (10%), Fisheries (10%), Climate Change (40%), Pollution Emissions (5%), Agriculture (5%), and Water Resources (5%). The policy objective varies from 0 to 100.
More about this variableFish caught by trawling measures the percentage of a country's fish caught by bottom or pelagic trawling, where a fishing net is pulled through the water behind a boat. This practice is indiscriminate and wasteful and can severely damage marine ecosystems. The variable is log-transformed according to the formula ln(x+α), where α = 8.40E-08. Original source: Sea Around Us. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableThe F-gas growth rate, which makes up 10% of the Climate Change Issue Category, is calculated as the average annual rate of increase or decrease in raw fluorinated gas emissions over the years 2008-2017. It is then adjusted for economic trends to isolate change due to policy rather than economic fluctuation. Original source: Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableFisheries Issue Category consists of 3 indicators: 1) Fish stock status, measured as the percentage of a country's total catch that comes from overexploited or collapsed stocks, considering all fish stocks within a country's EEZs. Because continued and increased stock exploitation leads to smaller catches, this indicator sheds light on the impact of a country's fishing practices. The metric is calculated as an average percentage weighted by catch and summed across classes of concern. It is log-transformed, ln(x + α), α = 1.13E-05, and given 35% weight in the aggregation. 2) Marine Trophic Index (MTI), which measures the health of a country's fishing stock based on expected catch and changes over time. The MTI describes the degree to which a country is depleting species at higher trophic levels and “fishing down the food web.” It is log-transformed, ln(x + α), α = 9.51E-07, and given 35% weight in the aggregation. 3) Fish caught by trawling, measured as the percentage of a country's fish caught by bottom or pelagic trawling, where a fishing net is pulled through the water behind a boat. It is log-transformed, ln(x + α), α = 8.40E-08, and given 30% weight in the aggregation. The issue category varies from 0 to 100.
More about this variableFish stock status measures the percentage of a country's total catch that comes from overexploited or collapsed stocks, considering all fish stocks within a country's EEZs. Because continued and increased stock exploitation leads to smaller catches, this indicator sheds light on the impact of a country's fishing practices. The variable is log-transformed according to the formula ln(x+α), where α = 1.13E-05. Original source: Sea Around Us. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableEPI calculates greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per capita for each country in the year 2017. The variable is log-transformed. The unit of measurement is gigagrams (Gg) of CO2-equivalent per person. Original source: Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableThe greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity growth rate indicator serves as a signal of countries' progress in decoupling emissions from economic growth. EPI calculates an annual average growth rate in GHG emissions per unit of GDP over the years 2008-2017. This indicator highlights the need for action on climate change mitigation in countries at all income levels. Original source: Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableGrassland loss is measured using a five-year moving average of percentage of gross losses in grassland areas compared to the 1992 reference year. The variable is log-transformed according to the formula ln(x+α), where α = 4.45E-06. Original source: European Space Agency. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableSanitation and Drinking Water Issue Category consists of two indicators: 1) Unsafe sanitation, measured as the proportion of a country's population exposed to health risks from their access to sanitation, defined by the primary toilet type used by households. It is log-transformed and given 40% weight in the aggregation. 2) Unsafe drinking water, measured as the proportion of a country's population exposed to health risks from their access to drinking water, defined by the primary water source used by households and the household water treatment, or the treatment that happens at the point of water collection. It is log-transformed and given 60% weight in the aggregation. Both indicators are measured using the number of age-standardized disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) lost per 100,000 persons. The issue category varies from 0 to 100.
More about this variableEPI measures household solid fuels using the number of age-standardized disability-adjusted life-years lost per 100,000 persons (DALY rate) due to exposure to household air pollution (HAP) from the use of household solid fuels. The variable is log-transformed. Original source: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableHeavy Metals Issue Category consists of the indicator Lead Exposure, which measures the number of age-standardized disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) lost per 100,000 persons due to this risk. It is log-transformed. The issue category varies from 0 to 100.
More about this variableThis indicator measures CO2 emissions from land cover change and is calculated over the years 2001-2015. The unit of measurement is proportion. Original source: Mullion Group. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableMarine protected areas indicator is measured as the percentage of a country's total exclusive economic zone (EEZ) designated as marine protected areas (MPAs). MPAs represent a critical tool for protecting marine ecosystems from unsustainable fishing practices, pollution, and human disturbance. Because each country may have multiple EEZs, the summed area of MPAs is divided by the summed EEZ. Original source: World Database on Protected Areas. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableControlled solid waste refers to the proportion of household and commercial waste generated in a country that is collected and treated in a manner that controls environmental risks. This metric counts waste as “controlled” if it is treated through recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion, incineration, or disposed of in a sanitary landfill. Original source: Wiedinmyer et al. 2014 & Kaza et al. 2018. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableMarine Trophic Index (MTI) measures the health of a country's fishing stock based on expected catch and changes over time. The MTI measures the degree to which a country is depleting species at higher trophic levels and “fishing down the food web.” The variable is log-transformed according to the formula ln(x+α), where α = 9.51E-07. Original source: Sea Around Us. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableThe N2O growth rate, which makes up 5% of the Climate Change issue category, is calculated as the average annual rate of increase or decrease in raw nitrous oxide emissions over the years 2008-2017. It is then adjusted for economic trends to isolate change due to policy rather than economic fluctuation. Original source: Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableThe NOX growth rate is calculated as the average annual rate of increase or decrease in NOX over the years 2005-2014. It is then adjusted for economic trends to isolate change due to policy rather than economic fluctuation. Original source: Community Emissions Data Systems. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableEPI measures ozone exposure using the number of age-standardized disability-adjusted life-years lost per 100,000 persons (DALY rate) due to exposure to ground-level ozone pollution. The variable is log-transformed. Original source: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableThe PARI indicator measures ecological representativeness as the proportion of biologically scaled environmental diversity included in a country's terrestrial protected areas. The measure relies on remote sensing, biodiversity informatics, and global modeling of fine-scaled variation in biodiversity composition for plant, vertebrate, and invertebrate species. Original source: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableEPI measures lead exposure using the number of age-standardized disability-adjusted life-years lost per 100,000 persons (DALY rate) due to lead contamination in the environment. The variable is log-transformed. Original source: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableAmbient particulate matter pollution measured with the number of age-standardized disability-adjusted life-years lost per 100,000 persons (DALY rate) due to exposure to fine air particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5). The variable is log-transformed. Original source: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Transformation. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableThe SO2 growth rate is calculated as the average annual rate of increase or decrease in SO2 over the years 2005-2014. It is then adjusted for economic trends to isolate change due to policy rather than economic fluctuation. Original source: Community Emissions Data Systems. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableSpecies Habitat Index (SHI) estimates potential population losses, as well as regional and global extinction risks of individual species, using habitat loss as a proxy. The SHI indicator measures the proportion of suitable habitat within a country that remains intact for each species in that country relative to a baseline set in the year 2001. Original source: Map of Life. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableThe Sustainable Nitrogen Management Index (SNMI) seeks to balance efficient application of nitrogen fertilizer with maximum crop yields as a measure of the environmental performance of agricultural production. The 2020 EPI uses the SNMI as a proxy for agricultural drivers of environmental damage. Original source: UMCES. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableSpecies Protection Index (SPI) evaluates the species-level ecological representativeness of each country's protected area network. The SPI metric uses remote sensing data, global biodiversity informatics, and integrative models to map suitable habitat for over 30,000 terrestrial vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant species at high resolutions. The unit of measurement is percentage. Original source: Map of Life. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableEPI derives the terrestrial biome protection indicators by first calculating the proportions of the area of each of a country's biome types that are covered by protected areas and then constructing a weighted sum of the protection percentages for all biomes within that country. For the terrestrial biome protection (global weights) indicator, protection percentages are weighted according to the global prevalence of each biome type. This indicator evaluates a country's contribution toward the global 17% protection goal. Original source: World Database on Protected Areas. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableEPI derives the terrestrial biome protection indicators by first calculating the proportions of the area of each of a country's biome types that are covered by protected areas and then constructing a weighted sum of the protection percentages for all biomes within that country. For the terrestrial biome protection (national weights) indicator, protection percentages are weighted according to the prevalence of each biome type within that country. This indicator evaluates a country's efforts to achieve 17% protection for all biomes within its borders, as per Aichi Target 11. Original source: World Database on Protected Areas. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableEPI quantifies tree cover loss by constructing a five-year moving average of the percentage of forest lost from the extent of forest cover in the reference year 2000. A forest is defined as any land area with over 30% canopy cover. The variable is log-transformed. Original source: Global Forest Watch. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableEPI measures unsafe sanitation using the number of age-standardized disability-adjusted life-years lost per 100,000 persons (DALY rate) due to their exposure to inadequate sanitation facilities. The variable is log-transformed. Original source: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableEPI measures unsafe drinking water using the number of age-standardized disability-adjusted life-years lost per 100,000 persons (DALY rate) due to exposure to unsafe drinking water. The variable is log-transformed. Original source: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableWaste Management Issue Category consists of the indicator Controlled Solid Waste, which refers to the proportion of household and commercial waste generated in a country that is collected and treated in a manner that controls environmental risks. This metric counts waste as "controlled" if it is treated through recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion, incineration, or disposed of in a sanitary landfill. The issue category varies from 0 to 100.
More about this variableWater Resources Issue Category consists of the indicator Wastewater Treatment, which measures the percentage of wastewater that undergoes at least primary treatment, normalized by the proportion of the population connected to a municipal wastewater collection system. It is calculated through a straightforward product of wastewater treatment level and sewerage connection rate. The issue category varies from 0 to 100.
More about this variableWetland loss is quantified using a five-year moving average of percentage of gross losses in wetland areas compared to the 1992 reference year. The variable is log-transformed according to the formula ln(x+α), where α = 2.47E-06. Original source: European Space Agency. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variableThe percentage of wastewater that undergoes at least primary treatment in each country, normalized by the proportion of the population connected to a municipal wastewater collection system. Original source: UNSD, OECD, Eurostat, etc. When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.
More about this variable