The 2026 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) has been published. Compiled every two years by Yale University and Columbia University, the ranking evaluates 177 countries across 47 environmental indicators in 12 categories, including environmental health, ecosystem vitality, and climate change.
Top three countries:
- Estonia
- Luxembourg
- United Kingdom
The top 20 is dominated by Europe, with 19 European countries alongside Japan. At the bottom of the ranking are Laos, India, and Bangladesh. The United States ranks 27th, while China is 129th.
Russia ranks 89th with 40.72 points, down from 87th place in the 2024 edition.
Key findings:
- European countries continue to lead the ranking, but even the top performers are not on track to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
- Progress in reducing pollution and improving natural resource management is slowing.
- Around half of the world’s grasslands are now degraded.
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