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E  N V I R O N M E N TA L

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S  U S T A I N A B I L I T Y I  N D E X (E S I )

What

What Is It?

BENCHMARK

The Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI) measures

Increase

Increase ESI scores to at least 55 to

the capacity of nations or  their sub-divisions to

60 for all MAR countries. Work with

sustainably manage their natural environment over

Yale Center for Environmental Law and

the next several decades.

Policy group to develop ESI equivalents

for

for small economies (Belize).

This index, which was developed by the Yale Center

for Environmental Law and Policy,35 uses an aggregate

TA R G E T

dataset of 76 parameters that track natural resource

endowments, past and present pollution levels,

ESI scores ranked in the top quartile

ESI

environmental management efforts, governance

(25%) for all MAR countries.

(25%)

effectiveness, corruption, political and civil liberties

and other measures of a country's capacity to improve

RED FL AG

its environmental performance. These are then

aggregated into a single indicator of environmental

Stagnant or decreasing ESI scores for

Stagnant

sustainability capacity.

any country.

any

ESI scores can range from 0 to 100. In general, the

higher the ESI value, the greater the tendency towards

· Environmental systems,

environmental stewardship. Lower ESI values tend to

indicate poorer capacity for stewardship.

· Environmental stresses,

Why

Why Do We Measure It?

· Human vulnerability to environmental stresses,

Sustainable use of the environment and natural

· Societal capacity to respond to environmental

resources is the key to the future survival of global

challenges, and

populations. Central to environmental sustainability

is the capacity of policymakers and decision-makers

· Global stewardship.

to develop and implement informed regulations

These are then rolled up into a single comparable

that protect the environment while meeting human

score from 0 to 100.

development needs.

Usefulness

This index complements gross domestic product

(GDP) and the human development index (HDI). The

The ESI scores provide important information

ESI can be compared to these two measures to

regarding the enabling environment necessary for

understand

the

environmental

sustainability

sustainability at a national scale. ESI calculations are

required to maintain or improve economic or

based on national averages, and values specific to

development  conditions.  This  indicator  thus

MAR coastal areas are not available. Nevertheless,

promotes explicit consideration of how economic

countrywide averages give an indication of the national

growth  can  be  balanced  with  environmental

stewardship "climate," which inevitably influences

sustainability. It also provides a quantitative guide

local environmental conditions and governance.

for government agencies seeking to increase the

capacity for environmental protection and stewardship

ESI scores should be cross-referenced with direct

in MAR countries.

biological measures to verify whether stewardship

capacities are translating into sustainable impacts on

How Do We Measure It?

the ground.

The  ESI  incorporates  76  indicators  into  21

components related to five aspects of environmental

sustainability:

152