Estonia tops global sustainability rankings as US falls to 27th

The 2026 Environmental Performance Index, compiled by Yale and Columbia researchers, ranks 191 countries on 47 indicators of environmental health and policy. Estonia leads the list with a score of 75, driven by a sharp decline in greenhouse‑gas emissions from electricity generation and a rapid expansion of renewables. The government aims for 100 % renewable electricity by 2030 and net‑zero emissions by 2050. At a United Nations University‑Centre for Policy Research conference in New York on 9 July, Estonian Energy and Environment Minister Andres Sutt said he was “very proud” of the recognition.

Europe dominates the top‑20, holding 19 of the first 20 places. Luxembourg follows Estonia with 74 points, then the United Kingdom (72), Finland and the Netherlands (71 each). The United States slips to 27th, while China also scores low, indicating that the world’s largest emitters are unlikely to meet the 2050 net‑zero target.

Experts stress that all countries remain far from the crucial climate goals, noting especially weak performance in agricultural sustainability and persistent air‑quality challenges linked to particulate matter.