European countries continue to stand out in terms of environmental performance, according to the 2026 Environmental Performance Index. However, this report highlights that only a few countries are on track to achieve the global goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Results of the Environmental Performance Index
The Environmental Performance Index, established by researchers from Yale University's Center for Environmental Law & Policy and Columbia Climate School's Center for Integrated Earth System Information, reveals that European countries lead in terms of environmental performance. However, progress has slowed in several challenges such as pollution control and natural resource management.