The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2026 is a biennial assessment produced by researchers at the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy and Columbia University. The report evaluates 177 countries based on 47 performance indicators across 12 issue categories, including climate change, environmental health, and ecosystem vitality. India's low ranking reflects significant challenges regarding air quality, heavy reliance on coal-fired power, and limited biodiversity protection measures. The index serves as a global benchmark for countries to track their progress toward meeting net-zero greenhouse gas emission goals by 2050.