Environmental Performance Index (EPI)

The 2012 Environmental Performance Index (2012 EPI) centers on two broad environmental protection objectives: (1) reducing environmental stresses on human health, and (2) promoting ecosystem vitality and sound natural resource management. These are gauged using 22 indicators tracked in ten policy categories: 

• Environmental Burden of Disease
• Air Pollution (effects on human health)
• Water (effects on human health)
• Air Pollution (ecosystem effects)
• Water (ecosystem effects)
• Biodiversity and Habitat
• Forestry
• Fisheries
• Agriculture
• Climate Change

The EPI utilizes a proximity-to-target methodology focused on a core set of environmental outcomes linked to policy goals. The 2012 EPI includes 132 countries based on data availability.

The Pilot Trend Environmental Performance Index (Trend EPI) ranks countries on the change in their environmental performance over the last decade. As a complement to the EPI, the Trend EPI shows who is improving and who is declining over time.

For a more detailed methodology, download the 2012 EPI and Pilot Trend EPI report.

Authors:

Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy
250 Prospect Street  
New Haven, CT  06511

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) Columbia University
PO Box 1000
61 Route 9W
Palisades, NY  10964
USA

In Collaboration with:

World Economic Forum
91-93 route de la Capite
1223 Cologny
Geneva, Switzerland

Joint Research Centre European Commission
Enrico Fermi 1
TP 361, 21020 Ispra
Italy