SA's Environmental Performance Index (EPI) scores and global ranking
We were intrigued by the question we are so often asked, “how does South Africa’s environmental performance rank globally”. So we did some research and found the global Environmental Performance Indicators (EPI), which is done by Yale university and supported by, amongst others, the World Economic Forum. Of all the indexes and performance evaluations, we found the EPI to be the most comprehensive. On what the EPI is, we have taken an excerpt from its website: “The 2018 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranks 180 countries on 24 performance indicators across ten issue categories covering environmental health and ecosystem vitality. These metrics provide a gauge at a national scale of how close countries are to established environmental policy goals. The EPI thus offers a scorecard that highlights leaders and laggards in environmental performance, gives insight on best practices, and provides guidance for countries that aspire to be leaders in sustainability.” To read more about the EPI see its website.
The EPI indicators are displayed in the graphic below and more about the methodology can be found on the EPI website.
So….how does SA compare?
A higher score indicates a better performance and vice versa. SA’s overall EPI score was 44.73, which ranks in the bottom 25th percentile of the world. Looking at the individual EPI indicators (see the graphic below/right called SA’s percentile global…), only 26% of SA’s indicators positioned above the global 50th percentile, meaning only 26% of the scores calculated for SA’s respective EPI indicators were above average. The remaining 74% were below the 50th percentile, meaning for 74% of our EPI indicator scores we ranked below the average. The two EPI indices of PM 2.5 exposure and PM 2.5 exceedances placed in the bottom 10th percentile of global scores while our CO2 emissions per kWh positioned in the 20th percentile.
The overall environmental health objective scored below the 20th percentile, which is far below the global average (as calculated from the air quality, water and sanitation, and heavy metals categories. See the EPI indicators graphic above). SA’s Environmental vitality scored near the 50th percentile, which is near the global average (calculated from the biodiversity and habitat, forests, fisheries, Climate and energy, Air pollution, water resources, and agriculture categories. See the EPI indicators graphic above).
As a developing country, it can be expected that SA is not ranking in the top 10 percent, but much more could have and can still be done to improve SA’s global EPI ranking. Not only is this about our global standing in terms of environmental performance, but about actually improving our air quality, protecting our natural resources and improve our health. Numerous bureaucratic obstacles stand in the way of accelerating SA’s transition to clean, or at least cleaner, energy. With SA’s CO2 (t)/kWh intensity ranking in the lower 20th percentile, there is significant room for improvement. Renewable energy solutions are readily available with investors lined up to invest in mega renewable energy projects. SA have good environmental legislation but sometimes lack political will to strengthen enforcement, thus at times leaving these legislation void. Mismanagement and corruption also effects enforcement of this legislation and leads to poor governance, especially at waste management facilities, sewage plants and other pollution sources.
With a capable leadership, strong enforcement and innovative strategies, SA’s improvement in its global EPI ranking would be imminent.