India Performs Poorly in Global Environmental Rankings, Secures 176th Place

In a concerning revelation about the state of environmental health in India, the country has been ranked 176th out of 177 nations in the 2026 Environment Performance Index (EPI). This index, which provides a comprehensive assessment of environmental health, ecosystem vitality, and climate change mitigation efforts, highlights alarming deficiencies in India’s environmental practices.

Among the eight South Asian countries evaluated, India placed last, trailing behind its neighbors including Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Maldives, and Bangladesh. The index scored India a mere 22.4 out of a possible 100, starkly contrasting with Estonia, which secured the top position with a score of 74.79.

The EPI, compiled biennially by Yale and Columbia universities along with other institutions, employs 47 indicators across 12 categories to evaluate nations’ environmental performance. India’s ranks reveal significant challenges: 174th in environmental health, 171st in ecosystem vitality, and 130th in climate change mitigation. These positions indicate a pressing need for comprehensive policy reform and scientific intervention in the face of escalating environmental issues.

The report underscores a critical paradox faced by India. While the nation’s per-capita carbon emissions remain comparatively low, they are increasing at an alarming rate. As millions of citizens gain access to modern energy sources, urban air quality has deteriorated significantly, leading to heightened greenhouse gas emissions and severe air pollution—a situation described as a “development-versus-pollution tension.”

Data from the last decade shows a worrying trend in various air quality indicators within India. Metrics related to the burden of illness and mortality due to fine particulate matter exposure, as well as harmful gases like carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide, have exhibited negative trends. Such statistics illustrate a dire need for immediate action to combat air quality degradation, which continues to pose a grave risk to public health.

Source: scroll.in