Oman Jumps 99 Places In 2024 Environmental Performance Index, Securing Top 50
Oman has made a significant leap in the 2024 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), securing the 50th position worldwide, a drastic improvement from its 149th rank in the 2022 index. This achievement highlights Oman's advanced efforts in environmental protection and sustainability. The sultanate now stands as the second-highest-ranked country in both the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Middle East, according to the index published by the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy and Columbia University's Center for International Earth Science Information Network.
The EPI, released on Monday, evaluates 180 countries using 58 performance indicators to measure their progress in addressing climate change, enhancing environmental health, and preserving ecosystem vitality. These indicators align with global benchmarks such as the UN sustainability goals, the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Oman's impressive EPI score of 51.9 reflects its leading performance in several critical indicators, including Marine protection stringency and the Adjusted emissions growth rate for both sulphur dioxide and black carbon. Furthermore, the country ranks first globally in its efforts against Bottom trawling in economic zones and the global ocean, as well as in Relative crop yield. Additionally, Oman is among the top five nations in terms of Wastewater collected and treated, showcasing its commitment to environmental health and safety.
Within the GCC, the United Arab Emirates leads with a rank of 49th, closely followed by Oman. Other GCC countries like Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain are ranked 69th, 80th, 89th, and 120th, respectively.
On a global scale, Estonia tops the 2024 EPI rankings, largely due to its significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the past decade, attributed to the shift from oil shale power plants to cleaner energy sources. Luxembourg, Germany, Finland, and the United Kingdom round up the top five positions, showcasing their commitment to environmental sustainability.
Conversely, the index places Vietnam and several developing nations in Southeast and Southern Asia, including Pakistan, Laos, Myanmar, India, and Bangladesh, at the lower end of the spectrum. This underscores the critical need for international cooperation to assist these countries in achieving sustainable development goals.
The 2024 EPI report also sheds light on the challenges faced by countries previously leading in sustainability, which have now either fallen behind or plateaued. This is particularly evident in sectors that are difficult to decarbonise, such as agriculture. In some instances, reductions in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions were observed due to external factors rather than proactive policies, indicating the complex hurdles in achieving sustained environmental progress.
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