Environmental Performance Index 2008 [BETA]

Country scores
Continue to: Executive Summary

The 2008 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranks 149 countries on 25 indicators tracked across six established policy categories: Environmental Health, Air Pollution, Water Resources, Biodiversity and Habitat, Productive Natural Resources, and Climate Change Change. The EPI identifies broadly-accepted targets for environmental performance and measures how close each country comes to these goals. As a quantitative gauge of pollution control and natural resource management results, the Index provides a powerful tool for improving policymaking and shifting environmental decisionmaking onto firmer analytic foundations.

See also: EPI 2006
Comments
Martha Marin Contreras (Mar 03, 2008): Hello: This information is very important for me and my thesis in MASTER IN MANEGEMENT INTEGRATED IN THE COASTAL ZONE. BESTS REGARDS MARTHA MARIN CONTRERAS
Dr V N Sivasankara Pillai (Apr 07, 2008): It seems that EPI and corruption are closely related. This is because corruption leads to mismanagement of natural resources, abuse of natural resources causes environmental pollution, and all these influence por environmental performanace.
GreenSeeker (Apr 27, 2008): I hope that form this results of your study that the international community will really help fight the abusers in our environment. Hope that they will pass a bill that will be mandatory to all nation to protect, capitalize, and to promote the greener earth. All of us is accountable in this regard. Help not because of money, support not because of fame, promote not because of power but because of your real principle for the real next generation. U.S. and China should spearhead this problem!
Midori (Jun 28, 2008): I would like someone to explain why such an environmentally progressive country as Netherlands for instance, is ranked below, say, Thailand or Mexico which are not exactly known as environment-friendly countries…Isn’t this indeed misleading? Or those countries which do not have much natural resources are doomed to rank low in this index regardless of their efforts to green their countries?
Abby (Jul 09, 2008): I’d like to see the full exams they did to get these results. South Africa for example has a substantially better environmental setup than Turkey and USA. I’m wondering if they did not perhaps weight things properly. USA has highest carbon monoxide in the world according to many other environmental studies etc.
Nicolaas (Jul 16, 2008): What a wase of time! I have never seen anything as unconsidered as this index. It mixes natural heritage (biodiversity) with policies. So if you have sparsely populated country with bad policies you can still end up in the top 10 (like NZ, Costa Rica and Iceland). To say for example that Taiwan is cleaner than the Netherlands is a joke. This is real ivory tower work.
Maureen Cassidy (Jul 17, 2008): Russia is unquestionably one of the worst countries in the world in terms of environmental health and degradation. Yet, it gets points because of its vast forests. It probably also gets bonus points because of its negative growth rate which is directly tied to abominable environmental health. Who funds this garbage?
Salman (Jul 18, 2008): I did not find the state of qatar in the ranking. Is there a resone for this. Regards. Salman
Ryousouke (Sep 03, 2008): I’m wondering how come Singapore and Brunei were not included into the EPI … Any reasons?
Leia (Sep 22, 2008): There are many dynamics that play into the ideal of green. It is a challenge to measure and decide which should take precedent. I found it an interesting study, but in no way absolute truth.
MrPerfect72 (Sep 29, 2008): It seems not only that EPI and corruption are closely related, but also density of population. I suggeste a focus on familyplanning as means of adjusting the index for most counties. I can also see this as recomendable for countries at the top of this list eaven if it is not as urgent as elsewhere. It is a very interesting study. Good luck to all consuming less and enjoying nature instead. :-)
julio alinder (Oct 22, 2008): la importancia de las políticas de gestion ambiental en todos los paises es piesa clave para un futuro promisorio. ahora estamos en el deber de actuar de manera colectiva para frenar el desequilibrio climatico.
James (Dec 07, 2008): Changing the weights sends certain countries up and down the list while others do not move around much. The United States can fluctuate from 39th to 60th while keeping the variables reasonably weighted. So what difference do those 21 ranks make?
The liberal Bersrerk (Jan 14, 2009): I have never seen so mutch scientific crap assabled on one spot before. You guys must have lured lots of money from your sponsors. This page really stinks….
brandy (Apr 17, 2009): As an American living in the Netherlands, I find it funny that people have commented that the NL should be higher therefore questioning the validity of the list. I’m not saying that the list is perfect by any means but maybe people should really take a long look at the NL before saying it has great environmental policies. The country is so dense it has some of the highest air pollution in the EU. I have yet to find a place where you can actually turn 360 degrees and not see a sign of development (be it a smoke stack, trash, houses, etc). The Dutch have no qualms about building factories and industry (right next the sea most often)and often prefer to throw trash in the canals and on the street rather than the trash bins. A large percentage of the population smokes as well, which adds to the air pollution. Most forested areas have been demolished to make way for roads and houses. The government regularly chooses profit over planet. It’s not exactly what I would call a leader in all things environment. Not that many countries are but I hate to think the Dutch eco-propaganda is working.
Polo Maldonado-Martinez (Apr 17, 2009): I believe that you might improve your information by estimating in watts or joules the industrial production and pollution compared to the watts or joules (or any other measure) produced by the plants, algae, etc.
Karl Spracklin (Apr 18, 2009): I’m not sure how this study was conducted or how critical natural resources were,but to rank the Netherlands 55th totally lost me.This report is so flawed…it has ZERO significance.Too bad,because the idea is good.
BalkanPower (Apr 18, 2009): Some of Balkanian countries are not shown here, for example Montenegro and Serbia. Second, USA should be positioned way below on this chart
Mike (Apr 18, 2009): The clever types who organized this dubious rating that put Costa Rica as the fifth cleanest have never been to San Jose or Limon or Jaco or Manzanillo all of which are pretty filthy.
jock isenhardt (Apr 18, 2009): The eternal question has always been. What happens when you educate a stupid person? Does he/she become an intellectual or simply a stupid person with more information. I am grateful to Yale that they have answered the question. This study has shed light on this most darkest human secret. Thank you Yale.
Darko (Apr 19, 2009): @BalkanPower In an article I read, that led me to this report, it was stated that there was insufficient data to rank Serbia and Montenegro.
Carlos (Apr 21, 2009): Para Mike, me parece que no te has enterado de nada, el estudio es un análisis de prácticas ambientales, de la calidad del aire y del agua y de la vitalidad natural, entre otros, hecho por científicos de las universidades de Columbia y Yale, no de las basuras que seguro que usted mismo tiro cuando nos visito. Y te lo digo por el comentario tan mesquino que publicaste.
Christian Diaz (Apr 21, 2009): It is very interesting to see a very little nation as Costa Rica in the 5th position between countries that their GDP per capita are over the $30.000. This means that Costa Ricans are good example of how preserving nature and trying to be sustainable with their surroundings. New Zeland has little bit more of population than Costa Rican, but their GDP is a lot more and they are in the 7th position! Congrats to this little Central American nation because it shows that to preserve nature is not only the government who have to invest, it’s also in the education of their citizens.
Melissa (Apr 21, 2009): Costa Rica is a beautiful country and has made progress on this issue, but it is not enough to be ranked in # 5. For example, according to the Ozone Secretariat this country is the first producer of Methyl Bromide, in per capita terms, among all the Latin American and Caribbean nations.
Michael Harris (Apr 21, 2009): I have benn in Costa Rica many times during the last years, and I have to say that Costa Rica does not work on environmental matters as it seems to do: destruction of coast corals, contamination of rivers, pineapple expansion causing envronmental harm are part of the reality of this country that is in absolute contradiction with Costa Rica 5st place. Something seems not to be working well with EPI indicators, at least in this case.
Nick Morales (Apr 21, 2009): Mr. Harris, have you ever heard of sustained development?
Marjorie (Apr 21, 2009): I´m costarrican and I´am surprise because this points scores in the world in this EPI is for Costa Rica. It actions is really poor of the costarricans to have for too colaborate with the environmental but the other humans what happens? because is our country in best position that the power nations if this have the money and resources for to help the environmental… Yes if the indicators is not to be working Michael Harris, BECAUSE THE OTHER NATIONS MORE IMPORTANT AND RICH IN THE WORLD NOT ARE IN THIS POSITIONS OR MAJOR POSITIONS, Yes Melissa if my country is the first producer of is the first producer of Methyl Bromide,because the other nations more powerous and biggest not are in this war and battle against the Ozone the Methyl Bromide,the trash the big companys pollutants the deforest the people that not know recycle and to continue doing and practice actions that contribute the warming and the many actions that harm water, air, forest, oceans, montains, and the millions childrens and future lifes? THE WORLD IS TO HELP US AND US NOT ARE DEAF AND EVEN NOT DEAD,,,
Helena Morales (Apr 21, 2009): Costa Rica no puede estar en esa lista. Es imposible! O entonces vivimos en un mundo magico, llenos de espejos, ilusiones y de mentiras oficiales y institucionalizadas por los Gobiernos! Enteresen: vayan a: www.detrasdeelapina.org, o vayan a www.feconcr.org. Lean la prensa ambienatlista como opinion ambiente o www.elpais.cr o www.semanario.ucr.ac.cr. o www.una.ac.cr/ambientico. No es el mimso pais!
Mariana Torres (Apr 21, 2009): Ohh ticos como siempre hablando mal sin actuar!
Michael Harris (Apr 21, 2009): Hi Nick Morales: try to find sustainibility in Costa Rica when speaking about gold mining in Crucitas (http://fueradecrucitas.blogspot.com/) or extraction of materiasl from rivers: http://comiteprodefensariolagarto.blogspot.com, or developping high standart residences in Miramar http://riesgodegoldenhills.blogspot.com or environmental effects of pineapple expansion: www.detrasdelapina. And after we talk, OK?
jorge gutierrez (Apr 21, 2009): Es interesante ver personas como Helena Morales se llenen la boca para decir tonteras y quizas no acordarse que tiene a uno o mas miembros de su familia viviendo en nuestro pais a costillas del turismo que nos visita siga asi Sra o Srta Helena que pronto alguno de los miembros de su familia estara sin trabajo !!gracias a su apoyo e ignorancia !! nunca ha escuchado hablar de politica, recuerde que los politicos solo dicen lo que usted desea escuchar
Claudia Saenz (Apr 21, 2009): Destruction of the Osa Peninsule in Costa Rica is also part of “sustainility”mentionned by Nick Morales ? See: http://www.discoveringcostarica.com/fila_costena_osa_destruccion.htm
diego (Apr 21, 2009): Comparto el comentario con Jorge, creo que los resultados son totalmente correctos, claro hay “ecologistas” que se oponen a todo, quieren llegar a sus casas a bañarse con agua caliente, usar el microondas, tele, etc, pero se oponen a la construccion de plantas hidroeléctricas, felicidades pero hay mucho por seguir haciendo.
Michael Harris (Apr 21, 2009): Diego and Jorge Gutierrez seem to be extremely concerned by environmental sustainibility in Costa Rica. Do they seriously support the idea of a “sustainable” touristic development in Jaco, Tamarindo, Quepos, Sardinal,Parrita, Guanacaste and Osa ? O do they want me to refer to blogs and websites on the situation in these coasts of Costa Rica?
Claudia Saenz (Apr 21, 2009): Hola Jorge: vos siempre todo un caballero verdad? Sorry dear colleagues from around the world, but Jorge works for the Ministry of Environment in Costa Rica and part of his work is to question environmentalists critics through the Web. Just to have an ida on what happens in Osa see an article published today in Costa Rica: http://www.elpais.cr/articulos.php?id=5461 Saludos Mario, como siempre, sos todo un caballero!
Jorge del Valle (Apr 21, 2009): The South coast of Costa Rica (Osa Peninsula) on the Pacific Ocean is an environmental tragedy: see: http://www.elpais.cr/articulos.php?id=5424 (Posted yesterday). Definitively something is wrdong with EPI indicators. At least concerning Costa Rica.
Katherine (Apr 21, 2009): Congratulations Costa Rica!! It’s definitely an example to follow, people are always jealous… So let’s celebrate and be proud of this beautiful country!
Dave (Apr 21, 2009): Sure Costa Rica is not a perfect country in matters of this study…but it definitely shows how such a little and not wealthy country is comming with such issues where valuated in this study. Jealousy and negative comments in this site are comming pretty much from people with a third-world mind who look only the negative of a country instead of trying to recognize the effors of Costa-ricans in matters of nature and economy devolopment. Big cheer for those Costa-ricans who are trying to reconfirm what it’s well known “Costa Rica is the Switzerland of Central America” Scheiss auf die Evolutionsbremsen, die aus Neid schlecht ueber Costa Rica schreiben… Danke…
Pablo (Apr 21, 2009): Gracias Dave, muy bellas palabras; creo que nuestro pueblo hace sus esfuerzos para mejorar y tratar de plasmar su concepción del mundo en sus actuaciones.
Juan Diego (Apr 21, 2009): I’m Costa Rican and i think this study is great to us, i hope the country continue in this way but with balance, i’am not agree with built 30 floor buildings on Cahuita or Puerto Viejo, the nice of our country is the nature and the peace not the concrete, however the zone can be more developed, the balance on my opinion is the key, maybe more development, better infrastructure but without affect the nature and the eco system. In the other hand our city need be more clean. We could be better. That’s it…. Thanks
Francis (Apr 21, 2009): Costa Rica is a polemical question: on one hand, “Peace with Nature” initiative, 5st score of EPI, a green discourse. But on the other hand the facts reveal a dramatic deterioration of the environment in the last 3 years. Studies about biodiversity, quality of acuifers, lost of corrals, etc… What happens to this so sepcial country?
Verny (Apr 22, 2009): Como Costarricense estoy muy orgullosol del puesto alcanzado, por supuesto que tenemos mucho en que trabajar y por supuesto que no somos un país 100% ecologista. No podríamos comer si así fuera. Recuerden que absolutamente TODA actividad humana genera un impacto en el ambiente.
Orlando… (Apr 22, 2009): What can I say, as most Ticos are, I am very proud that such a small nation is as highly ranked in this area. I know that some comments posted on this website might be due to envy or what have you, however, all things aside, whether we belong here or not, we are. With that being said, I proudly encourage all Ticos to continue to support the country in continuing to maintain our ranking. With all do respect to those that think we should not be ranked this high, or have visited Costa Rica and came across some areas that are not as sterile as others, you may want to take a look at your backyard and see if filthiness does not also exist in your environment as well. Pura Vida Tiquicia!!
Carmen Salazar (Apr 22, 2009): Tengo bastantes años sobre mi espalda y puedo decir; como ciudadana costarricense que conoció la Costa Rica limpia, cuidada, con aire respirable, con playas inmaculadas;etc, Que este estudio no se aferra a la verdad. Mucho pregona este gobierno sobre la “Paz con la naturaleza”.¿Y el proyecto de las minas a cielo abierto? ¿Y la tala indiscriminada de árboles? ¿Y el proyecto para vender nuestros recursos acuíferos? ¿Y los permisos que se dan a grandes consorcios hoteleros para que construyan sin tomar en cuenta la destrucción de la naturaleza? Que vengan los que saben a hacer un real estudio sobre cómo la guerra contra la naturaleza se está llevando a cabo.
Carlos Fernando (Apr 22, 2009): Francis asked the right question: what happened in Costa rica during the last 3-4 years: how a green country cand be, from 2006 to now the first country exporting pineapple around the world, with impressive environmental harm? The country that has the most contaminated river mouth flowing to the sea (Rio Tarcoles mouth) in Central America? The country that in Latin America has the highest quantity of pesticides/habitant/square Km? The country that lost in less than 5 years 50% of its monkeys population? The country where 97% of used waters goes to rivers with no any kind of treatment? Definitively, EPI is missing something in Costa Rica quite obvious for all of us living there.
Jose Alberto (Apr 22, 2009): Es un orgullo para todo costarricense que nos coloquen detras de paises como Suiza, o los paises escandinavos.Pero al haber conocido la vida en algunos de esos paises, la limpieza de sus rios, los controles ambientales que ahi se dan, los recursos del Estado en materia ambiental, la eficacia de su sistema de sanciones por daño ambiental, la educación de su gente, debo decir que en Costa Rica estamos a 10.000 años luz de esa realidad. En definitiva hay algunas cosas que los indicadores EPI no reflejan de manera correcta.
Félix (Apr 22, 2009): Yo creo que si las personas que nos están criticando después de esta publicación no son ni Suizos, ni Suecos, ni Noruegos ni Finlandeses deberían tratar de crear las políticas ambientales y llevar sus “grandes conocimientos” de ambiente a sus países para que en algún momento puedan sobrepasar a Costa Rica en este estudio. Si salimos de quintos nos critican, si salimos de últimos nos critican, por favor sean humildes y reconozcan que, aunque falta mucho por mejorar, se han hecho algunas cosas bien.
Baldor Montero (Apr 22, 2009): Un aplauso a aquellos que son objetivos y tienen la capacidad para ver con claridad la verdadera situacion del pais. no seamos cinicos. Costa Rica no es el paraiso que todos creemos. Despertemos y trabajemos para que lo sea. no solo queda mucho camino por recorrer sino que hay que empezarlo a recorrer apenas. DESPERTEMOS y si eso se puede considerar un premio hagamos merito para merecerlo. gracias.
Baldor Montero (Apr 22, 2009): Estoy de acuerdo con usted Felix en esto “Si salimos de quintos nos critican, si salimos de últimos nos critican, por favor sean humildes y reconozcan que, aunque falta mucho por mejorar, se han hecho algunas cosas bien.” Pero debemos ser humildes tambien y aceptar que no somos la ultima cocacola del desierto ni mucho menos y como dije antes “no solo queda mucha tela por cortar, sino que el rollo detela esta completo.”
jmf (Apr 22, 2009): soy colombiana viviendo en costarica, agradezco a este lindo y hermoso pais los felicito por estarentre este lista, tambien me siento orgullosa porque como colombiana veo que mi pais tambien esta en esa lista de numero 9 oseaentre los diez primeros osea no solo es guerra se que como costarica los valores ecologicos y una biodiversidad que cuaquier potencia quisiera tener, que pesar que ticos no aprecian lo que tieneny que se sienten mal por aparecer en un lista de esta, yo como colombiana residente en costarica me siento muy orgullosa del pais que me abrio sus puertas me tendio su mano y me mira todos LOS DIAS con amabilidad y respeto, como si estuviera en mi tierra. gracias costarica.
Raul Sotillo (Apr 22, 2009): Antes que nada quiero felicitar a este bello país por la calificación que ha conseguido y solo hacer notar que todos los países, tanto que le anteceden en la lista, como muchos de los posteriores poseen economías sumamente fuertes. En Europa se pagan impuestos altísimos por el desecho de las aguas, para cubrir los costos de tatamiento. No se pueden emitir opiniones y censuras tan a la ligera. Vamos Costa Rica, que lo estás haciendo muy bien.
Rolando (Apr 22, 2009): Les propongo un ejercicio para todos nosotros: 1) colocarse en el centro de la capital de Suiza, Noruega, Finlandia, Suecia y Costa Rica 24 horas. Inspirar fuertemente el aire que ahi se respira. Y luego hacer los análisis de clínica del paciente, a ver si resiste 24 horas de humo en el centro de San José. “)hacer lo mimso tomandose un delicioso baño en los rios de San Jose (Maria Aguilar, Torres, Virilla) y comparar el agua con las aguas en las capitales de los otros paises. 3) Simplemente caminar por la aceras y recoger las aguas negras que se vierten en San Jose, y ver si en los otros paises aparece algun fluido maloliente. 4) Toamr la lista de los recientes casos de contaminacion ambiental en Costa Rica (quimicos en Moin, piñeras en Siquirres, Dos Pinos en Rio Ciruclas) y ver si se han sancionado a los responsables. Y luego hacer el mismo ejercicio con casos en Noruega, Suiza, Finlandia. Es un ejercicio a alcance de todos. Lo raro es que EPI no lo incorpore en sus mediciones
Mark (Apr 22, 2009): I agree with some of the comments regarding Costa Rica, and as a native Tico living abroad I applause the efforts! Very few other countries can say they put as much effort into conservation or education towards conservation as my country has…. I’m amazed at the quantity of comments surrounding CR, and yet as small as they are it shows the Eco-power it has. Yes there are several problems still regarding harmful gases, pollutants and water issues; however look at the effort made… Enough said! The disappointment is not that CR is #5, but more countries can’t even make the top 20 with their support from their country men and women! Get it together and use CR as an example to change what is in your country, not criticize others for their valiant efforts! Pura VIda, TICO’s and keep up the great work! It’s hard to make changes and you have done it… slowly but surely. This is not a reason to quit, because I can only imagine the comments when you’re #2 or maybe even #1 someday! For those that travel and visit this beautiful country, on your eco-savy trips that you plan with friends, family or other- play your part and pickup some trash while your at it! The rivers wouldn’t be as bad if you did!!! Be a trend setter, not just trendy!!!
Roland Becker (Apr 22, 2009): Costa Rica esta haciendo importantes esfuerzos y tiene muchos logros. No obstante, si Costa Rica merece o no un 5to lugar, solo lo pueden contestar los responsables del informe. Me parece, si esto es asi, los demas tienen que buscarse pillitas bien grandes. Por orta parte, tienen razon quienes aqui se quejan de todo lo que falta hacer. Vea: http://www.galeria.centroamerica.tv/v/visitcentralamerica/paraiso_en_peligro/
SONIA TORRES (Apr 22, 2009): Qué mal anda el mundo. Si tenemos un quinto lugar, es porque la metodología de evaluación NO ES ADECUADA. Hay minería metálica y no metálica que arrasan con los bosques, los suelos, los ríos, las aguas cristalinas, el aire puro… Vean el último desastre minero en CR: Mina Bellavista con todas sus implicaciones sociales, ambientales, económicas y culturales, etc. VISITE CRONICA FOTOGRÁFICA DE COLAPSO MINERO EN COSTA RICA http://picasaweb.google.de/hundevonjinotepe/MinaBellavistaCrNicaDeUnColapso20062007 Conozcan también cómo se explotan los ríos en el país que ocupa ese quinto lugar: VISITE BLOG DEL COMITÉ PRO DEFENSA DEL RIO LAGARTO http://comiteprodefensariolagarto.blogspot.com/ Y vean cómo se construyen urbanizaciones en zonas de gran riqueza acuífera. Por favor no se engañen solos. VISITE BLOG DE MIRAMAR AL GRANO http://riesgodegoldenhills.blogspot.com/
LEON GONZALEZ (Apr 24, 2009): Es verdad que en Costa Rica tenemos muchos problemas, como los tienen todos los países. No somos perfectos y nos queda mucho por resolver. Por eso no estamos en el primer lugar. Estamos en el quinto porque la metodología, al hacer comparaciones, así nos ubica al compararnos con el universo. Por supuesto que para efectos de mejorar, debemos de compararnos con los mejores, para que los tomadores de decisiones, enderezcan las políticas. Con respecto a algunos comentarios hechos en esta lista, quizás por personas que en algún momento nos han visitado en su condición de turista y hablan de los problemas que tenemos, creo que se les puede sugerir que nos ayuden para que cuando regresen, nos hagan el favor de llevarse todos los DESECHOS que ellos mismos producen. Finalmente, me llama la atención el hecho de que la mayoría de los comentarios se hacen alrededor de Costa Rica.
Albert (Apr 24, 2009): It seems to me that Costa Rica ranking number 5 is questionned by nationals as well as by visitors of this country. Maybe the universities of Costa Rica or academics could give us a balanced overview of the current situation. I read long time ago the UNDP Annual Report made on Costa Rica, called “Estado de la Nación”, that many of you know, and the Chapter on Environnment of the two last reports (Informe XIII (2007) and Informe XIV are extremely critical and alert on the unsustainibility of the current decisions taken by the authorities. It is maybe a source of information tha EPI should consider
Albert (Apr 24, 2009): Reports availabe (Capitulo 4) (Environmental issues) at: http://www.estadonacion.or.cr/Info2008/Paginas/indice.html I hope it will be usefull for those of you that for different reasons are interested on Costa Rica real situaution realted to environment. Definitively EPI indicators need to be reviewed.
Rolando (Apr 25, 2009): Gracias o Sonia Torres por recordarnos el tema de Bellavista: otro caso mas de una larga lista de daños al medioambiente no sancionados. Se trata de una mina de oro a cielo abierto que todos habiamos advertido que colapsaria, tanto fuera como dentro del pais. Colapso en el 2007. Dos años despues, es decir ahora,2009, nadie se ha hecho responsable: la empresa salio del pais por la puerta trasera. Las autoridades tratan de minimizar el daño causado. No quieren reconocer su responsabilidad. El agua quedo contaminada. Se avecina una de los peores desastres ambientales en la historia que podria repercutir hasta el Golfo de Nicoya. La medición EPI es incompleta, no hay duda. Al menos para Costa Rica!
Andres vargas (Jul 15, 2009): <b> It is absolutely false that Costa Rica works in protecting the environment, I do not know how the hell this idea is so powerful that everybody seems to believe it. All the shit goes stright to the reivers, pineaple contamination, forest destruction, coastal areas destruction, etc etc etc is our daily reality. La 5ta posicion que Costa Rica ostenta en esta lista es pura mierda, Costa Rica no hace casi nada por proteger su entorno, desde las toneladas de mierda que todos los dias se descargan directamente a los rios, como las toneladas de basura que lanzan en los mismos rios, calles, playas, etc, hasta la enorme destruccion de areas costeras y tala de bosque, es lo que hay aqui diariamente. Que nadie se crea esta lista de mierda. </b>
Vinicio Otarola (Jul 22, 2009): Me parecen excelnte los comentarios que aparecen aca, quisiera agregar que el quinto lugar bien merecido lo tiene, a pesar de la cantidad de contaminantes que se desechan en los rios, la cantidad de desechos que se producen, existen proyectos en la mejora de cada punto. Comunidades como Jimenez (Juan Viñas) de Cartago, donde se aplican proyectos que reducen a mas de la mitad los deschos que no utilizaran o comunidades como Belén. Y actualmente la reforma de la ley general sobre el tratamiento de residuos sólidos en conjunto con otras municipalidades que inician pequeños proyectos nos otorgan este puesto, que bien se no es pura mierda. Si fuese comparado con paises de america latina, ya vemos que tendria el primer lugar.
Dr. Pradeep Chaudhry (Aug 04, 2009): I agree with Dr.V N S Pillai that EPI and corruption (CPI)are closely related. Corrupt politicians,bureaucrats and industrialists have little concern for the Nature and its resources in developing countries. Gross misuse, abuse and overuse of these resources leads to more environmental pollution in developing countries in comparision to developed and cleaner countries.
Amr A. Edrees (Aug 09, 2009): This web site and its information is very important for my PhD. thesis in environmental Science Many thanks.
Anja (Aug 26, 2009): If you search for a credible index that ranks different countries impact on environment, I suggest the Ecological Footprint (http://www.footprintnetwork.net/). Last year, WWF published a meaningful study called ””Living Planet Report” (http://www.panda.org/about_our_earth/all_publications/living_planet_report/) that I could warmly recommend. What is the reason for unsustainable world? Corruption? Whose footprint is the biggest?
kikiriki (Sep 10, 2009): 14 United Kingdom…..you make me a laugh
Ahimsa (Sep 26, 2009): How reliable is this study?
Jazmín Zatarain (Sep 29, 2009): It would be very interesting to show a comparison of the EPI with the ecological footprint for each country, we would realize that some of the countries ranked highly on the EPI, are poorly ranked on the EF, this would show a more realistic information about each country’s performance.
Felipe Sanchez (Oct 22, 2009): I’m glad Colombia appears at the top of a possitive index. This I think appart of showing some natural advantages of my country also shows a level of compromise with the environment.
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