Yale University (Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy), Columbia University (Center for International Earth Science Information Network) with the support of the McCall MacBain Foundation have just published the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2022.

Using 40 performance indicators across 11 issue categories, the EPI ranks 180 countries on their progress towards improving environmental health, protecting ecosystem vitality, air pollution, water resources, biodiversity, natural resources, climate change and mitigation measures among others...

The EPI offers a scorecard that highlights leaders and laggards in environmental performance and provides practical guidance for countries aspiring to a sustainable future.

According to the EPI index, Haiti (score 26.10) is ranked 173rd out of 180 countries with the worst environmental performance. Our Dominican neighbors (score 42.20) are 89th in the world.

Environmental performance, TOP 10 out of 180, of the best countries:

1st Denmark score 77.90

2nd United Kingdom score 77.70

3rd Filande score 76.50

4th Malta score 75.20

5th Sweden score 72.70

6th Luxembourg score 72.30

7th Slovenia score 67.30

8th Austria score 66.50

9th Switzerland score 65.90

10th Iceland score 62.80

Environmental performance, TOP 10 out of 180, of the worst countries:

180th India score 18.90

179th Myanmar (ex Burma) score 19.40

178th Viet Nam score Myanmar

177th Bangladesh score 23.10

176th Pakistant score 24.60

175th Papua New Guinea score 24.80

174th Liberia score 24.90

173rd Haiti scores 26.10

172nd Turkey score 26.30

171st Sudan score 27.60

Download the Haiti detailed fact sheet (English PDF) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/haiti-epi-2022.pdf

Download the index summary (English PDF) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/epi2022policymakerssummary.pdf

Download the full report (92 MB English PDF) : https://epi.yale.edu/downloads/epi2022report06062022.pdf

In addition, as part of the celebrations of World Environment Day (Sunday, June 5), the United Nations reiterated its commitment to strengthening Haiti's recovery capacity.

Fernando Hiraldo, UN Resident Coordinator in Haiti underlined the vulnerability of the country which constantly suffers from the consequences of the degradation of ecosystems, the disappearance of biodiversity and climate change... "In a situation like this, it's no more about holding the line but sparing no effort. It has become a mission, and even a responsibility towards ourselves, towards our communities, towards the land that we must safeguard at all costs."

He also recalled that the UN supports the efforts of national authorities, as well as civil society organizations in the adoption and application of policies and mechanisms for the protection of the environment. Emphasizing the urgency of building community resilience, promoting and investing in green, renewable and sustainable energy, in addition to caring for ecosystems and biodiversity, while strengthening waste management and recycling infrastructure.

He recalled that in Haiti, soil erosion and landslides linked to deforestation, the increase in pollution and waste due to urbanization, as well as a series of natural disasters have caused a deterioration ecosystems, and the effects of climate change are very visible.

SL/ HaitiLibre