BackSociety » Environment » Vietnam Ranks 131 of 180 Countries on 2016 Environmental Protection Index

Vietnam Ranks 131 of 180 Countries on 2016 Environmental Protection Index

Every year, American university Yale releases its Environmental Protection Index (EPI), rating the ability of individual nations to protect both human health and the ecosystem. In 2016, the numbers don't look great for Vietnam.

Yale's EPI 2016 results rank Vietnam 131 out of 180 nations, bumping the country up five spots from last year's report.

However, while Vietnam managed to remain ahead of its neighbors Laos (148) and Cambodia (146), Yale researchers found the country's performance was worse than the regional average. Other Southeast Asian nations ranking above Vietnam include Thailand (91), Malaysia (63) and Singapore (14).

Among the many issues analyzed by EPI researchers, Vietnam appeared to struggle in two areas: fisheries management and tropical forest loss. The 2016 EPI report noted the strain put upon Vietnam's waters due to overfishing as well as an accelerated rate of deforestation in several tropical countries around the world, including Vietnam.

“Overall, tropical forests [globally] lost 9.9 million hectares of tree cover in 2014, an area large enough to blanket South Korea with room to spare,” says the report.

Beyond individual country rankings, the 2016 EPI also pointed out a few chilling findings, such as the fact that more deaths worldwide are the result of poor air quality than of water. According to the report, half the world's population – over 3.5 billion people – also lives in countries with unsafe levels of air pollution.

Saigon is, of course, no exception. Late last year, officials reported the city's air quality index (AQI) was increasing at an alarming rate. In October 2015, District 7's air only registered as healthy on two days out of the entire month.


Related Articles:

Vietnam’s Air Quality Among the Worst in the World

Saigon's Air Quality Report Just Came Out and It's Not Good

Here's Why Saigon Is Missing From This Pollution Map


Related Articles

in Environment

Air Pollution Is Costing Vietnam's Economy $10.8–13.6bn a Year, Research Shows

Air pollution has been a daily annoyance for many Saigoneers, but how does this urban ailment translate into economic terms?

in Environment

As Drought Continues, Mekong Climate Refugees Leave Home

It's no secret that the Mekong Delta is in dire straits. Between hydroelectric dams, drought, sinking land and the region's ever-increasing salinization, farmers in the west are facing heavy losses th...

in Environment

Cambodia's Tigers Are 'Functionally Extinct'

Cambodia's tiger population is now “functionally extinct”, according to experts.

Michael Tatarski

in Environment

Coffee Production in Vietnam Faces Dark Future Under Climate Change

Rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns may cost Vietnam 50% of its current Robusta coffee production areas by 2050. Experts agree the situation looks dire, but there is hope that the count...

in Environment

Da Nang Locals Call for Inspection of Industrial Park Accused of Pollution

Locals in Da Nang's Lien Chieu District are calling upon authorities to investigate a nearby industrial park whom they have accused of polluting local rivers and damaging public health.

in Environment

Environmental Problems Likely to Hamper Vietnam's Future Economic Growth

According to a new report by Vietnam's National Center for Socio-Economic Information and Forecast (NCIF), the country's economic growth is being hindered by a host of environmental hiccups, including...

Partner Content