The recently-released Environment Performance Index 2022, which ranks 180 countries based on several indicators, has placed India at the bottom of the list. The EPI has used 40 performance indicators across 11 ‘issue categories’ to gauge the progress made by nations on climate change, environmental health, and the vitality of ecosystems. Denmark topped the list, followed by the United Kingdom and Finland. The cause is not far to seek: these countries have massively reduced the emission of greenhouse gases in recent years. The worst performers are India, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Pakistan. What is worrying is India’s consistent poor showing: in the 2020 index, India ranked 168th out of 180 countries. Rapidly increasing greenhouse gas emissions, plastic waste generation and deteriorating air quality have put India at the bottom. This assessment is in sharp contrast to periodic government statements tom-tomming the nation’s ‘progress’ on its environmental commitments. On World Environment Day, the prime minister, Narendra Modi, announced that India has achieved its target of 10 per cent ethanol blending in petrol five months before the deadline. Earlier, in March, Mr Modi’s government had insisted that India is on track to meet its nationally determined contributions that are at the heart of the Paris Agreement.

Unsurprisingly, the Centre has rejected the EPI, insisting that some of the indicators are “extrapolated and based on surmises and unscientific methods”. It has alleged that the shifting of weightage on and the removal of many indicators — crucial carbon sinks, such as forests and wetlands, have not been calculated — have led to the decline. This spirited denial seems all too common: New Delhi, these days, is in the habit of contesting nearly every international appraisal, be they on Covid-19 mortality or on India’s environmental challenges. There must be a degree of transparency for Indians to assess whether the government’s dismissal of critical reviews is prejudiced or not. This is especially important because even though India claims that it has enhanced its forest cover, many of these patches, scientists allege, are plantations. India also ranks close to the bottom in several indicators such as biodiversity, species protection index and ecosystem vitality in the EPI. Greater interaction between the scientific fraternity and the people is necessary for a fairer comprehension of India’s performance on diverse environmental parameters.