Environmental Performance Index

The 2018 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranks 180 countries on 24 performance indicators across ten issue categories covering environmental health and ecosystem vitality. The index is issued by Yale University, Colombia University , World Economic Forum every 2 years.

The index construct scores for each of the 24 indicators, placing them onto a common scale where 0 indicates worst performance and 100 indicates best performance. The indicator scores are then multiplied by weights, and added together to produce scores at the levels of the issue categories, policy objectives, and the final EPI.

Bahrain’s both score and rank increased in the year of 2020 but unfortunately has decreased again in the year 2022. This is due mainly to the decrease of the indicators under the Climate Change Dimensions, Recycling, and fisheries. On the other hand, Bahrain is doing really well in solid waste management, waste water treatment, and household solid fuels.

Description

The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranks 180 countries on 58 performance indicators into 11 issue categories and three policy objectives, which are:

      1. Environmental health
      2. Ecosystem vitality
      3. Climate change.

The index is issued by Yale University, Colombia University, World Economic Forum every 2 years.

Methodology

The index construct scores for each of the 58 indicators, placing them onto a common scale where 0 indicates worst performance and 100 indicates best performance. The indicator scores are then multiplied by weights, and added together to produce scores at the levels of the issue categories, policy objectives, and the final EPI.

Analysis

EPI Ranking 2024

Less is Higher

EPI Scores 2012 - 2024

More is better

Environmental Performance Index overall score and ranking

Bahrain Ranking for 2024 has unfortunately gone down from 90 in 2022 to 131 in 2024 with a score of 35.9. Out of 16 countries in the middle east, Bahrain ranked 15.

Environmental Health

In the Environmental health section, Bahrain rank is at 101 with a score of 40.9.
It covers issues air quality, sanitation & drinking water, heavy metals, waste Management.
Bahrain’s Ranking in each issue out of 180:

      • Air quality: Bahrain Ranked 118
      • Sanitation & Drinking water: Bahrain Ranked 63
      • Heavy metals: Bahrain Ranked 84
      • Waste Management: Bahrain Ranked 75

Strengths:

Bahrain scored the best in the following areas:

      • Household solid fuels
      • Controlled slid wastes
      • Waste recovery rate
      • Sanitation & drinking water

Areas of improvements:

      • Taking steps to improve air quality
      • Introducing initiatives to decrease waste generated per capita
      • Takin steps to decrease heavy metals exposure
Ecosystem Vitality

In the Ecosystem Vitality section, Bahrain rank is at 157 with a score of 27.9.
It covers issues water resources, agriculture, fisheries, air pollution, forests, and biodiversity & habitat.

Bahrain’s Ranking in each issue out of 180:

      • Water resources: Bahrain Ranked 24
      • Agriculture: Bahrain Ranked 143
      • Fisheries: Bahrain Ranked 56
      • Air pollution: Bahrain Ranked 165
      • Forests: N/A
      • Biodiversity & Habitat: Bahrain Ranked 156

Strengths:

Bahrain scored the best in the following areas:

      • Bottom Trawling in Exclusive economic zone. Bahrain Ranked number one is this indicator.
      • Regional Marine Trophic Index
      • Marine Habitat Protection

Areas of improvements:

      • Introducing initiatives in the protection of biodiversity and habitat of the country.
      • Investigating and taking steps to improve the fish catch discarded indicator.
Climate Change

In the Climate Change section, Bahrain ranks at 149 with a score of 38.6.
It covers one issue which is climate change mitigation.

Bahrain’s Ranking in each issue out of 180:

      • Climate change mitigation: Bahrain Ranked 157

Strengths:

Bahrain scored the best in the following areas:

      • Adjusted emissions growth rate for black carbon. Bahrain ranked number 1 in this indicator.
        Areas of improvements:
      • Setting up strategies regarding decreasing emission in Bahrain as all indicator under this issue needs to be looked at in order to start taking steps to improve its ranking.
Conclusion

It seems that Bahrain’s performance in this indicator needs some work and attention since the rank has been on a downward trend since 2018. Compared to the countries of the Middle east region, Bahrain ranked before last. Bahrain scored a little better in the environmental health objective than in the climate change and ecosystem vitality objectives, however, an overall look at the Country’s directions towards the environment is very much needed.

Source: https://epi.yale.edu/

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