2018环境绩效指数报告（英文版）_4页-1mb

2018 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) Summary

Core Content

The 2018 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is a global ranking system that evaluates the environmental performance of 180 countries based on 24 indicators across ten issue categories. It provides a data-driven framework for assessing how close countries are to achieving environmental policy goals, emphasizing environmental health and ecosystem vitality as two distinct dimensions of performance.

Main Points

• Purpose: The EPI serves as a scorecard to identify leaders and laggards in environmental performance, highlight best practices, and guide countries toward more sustainable policies.
• Methodology: The EPI incorporates the latest environmental science and analysis, offering a more rigorous and comprehensive approach to environmental policymaking.
• Ranking Highlights: Switzerland leads the EPI rankings due to its strong performance in air quality and climate protection. Other high performers include France, Denmark, and Malta.
• Low Performers: India and Bangladesh rank near the bottom, indicating significant challenges in air quality, biodiversity protection, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction.
• Two Dimensions of Environmental Performance:
  • Environmental Health: Tends to improve with economic growth and prosperity.
  • Ecosystem Vitality: Suffers due to industrialization and urbanization, highlighting the tension between development and environmental protection.
• Good Governance: Is identified as a critical factor in balancing these two dimensions of sustainability.
• Progress on GHG Emissions: Most countries have improved their GHG emissions intensity over the past decade, with over 85% showing declines in methane, nitrous oxide, and black carbon emissions.
• Marine and Terrestrial Protection: While the world has made progress in protecting marine habitats, terrestrial conservation remains a challenge, with many countries still lacking high-quality protected areas.
• Data Gaps: The EPI reveals significant data collection and reporting gaps, especially in areas like sustainable agriculture, water resources, waste management, and biodiversity threats.

Key Findings

• Air Quality: Remains the leading environmental threat to public health, with countries like India and China facing severe issues.
• GHG Emissions Intensity: Most countries have seen improvements, but these trends need to accelerate to meet the Paris Climate Agreement targets.
• Ecosystem Vitality: Requires more focus on protecting biodiversity and reducing human pressures on natural habitats.
• Regional Performance:
  • Asia: Includes countries like India, Bangladesh, and China, which have lower scores.
  • Caribbean: Countries like Trinidad and Tobago and St. Vincent & Grenadines show moderate performance.
  • E. Europe & Eurasia: Includes countries such as Qatar and Slovenia, with mixed results.
  • Europe & N. America: Leads with countries like Switzerland, France, and Norway.
  • Latin America: Countries like Brazil and Chile have moderate scores.
  • Mid East & N. Africa: Includes Jordan, Kuwait, and Iran, with some showing improvement.
  • Pacific: Countries like Micronesia and Vanuatu have low scores.
  • Sub-Saharan Africa: Includes nations like Chad, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe, with varying levels of performance.

2018 EPI Rankings

Conclusion

The 2018 EPI underscores the importance of data-driven policymaking in addressing global environmental challenges. It highlights the need for better data collection and governance to ensure sustainable development and environmental protection. While some countries have made significant strides, many still require urgent action to improve their environmental performance, particularly in areas such as air quality, biodiversity, and GHG emissions.