The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is compiled by Yale and Columbia Universities in collaboration with the World Economic Forum. It quantifies and numerically marks the environmental performance of a country’s policies based on various criteria, including air quality, water and sanitation, biodiversity and habitat, climate change, and energy.
India’s rank of 176th in the 2024 EPI underscores significant environmental challenges. Here are the key points:
• Air Quality: India ranks 177th in air quality, only slightly better than Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. • Emissions: The country’s projected emissions by 2025 rank 172nd, indicating high pollution levels. • Biodiversity and Habitat: Data limitations make a comprehensive assessment difficult, but current trends suggest the need for improvement. • Climate Change: India’s ranking in climate change has improved to 133rd due to its commitment to net-zero emissions by 2070 and investments in renewable energy. • Transboundary Pollution: India remains South Asia’s largest emitter of transboundary pollution, posing regional environmental threats.
Steps to Improve Environmental Performance:
1. Accelerate Transition to Clean Energy: Focus on reducing reliance on coal and increasing investments in renewable energy. 2. Enhance Air Quality: Implement stricter regulations and technologies to reduce air pollution. 3. Biodiversity Conservation: Strengthen efforts to protect and restore habitats and biodiversity. 4. Sustainable Investment: The estimated $160 billion annually needed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070 should be prioritized for sustainable development.
India’s path to a sustainable future requires significant investment and a commitment to transforming its energy and environmental policies.
SRIRAM’s
Share:
Get a call back
Fill the below form to get free counselling for UPSC Civil Services exam preparation
