Canada placed second-last among 22 “Global West” countries and 29th globally in the latest Environmental Performance Index (EPI), a composite ranking released in July by researchers at Yale and Columbia universities.
How the index works and where Canada faltered
The EPI draws on 47 environmental indicators ranging from greenhouse gas emissions to habitat protection and fisheries data, compiled from datasets published between 2022 and early 2026. The index is intended to provide a data-driven basis for comparing national performance and spurring public debate.
Canada recorded a score of 57.78 out of 100. By comparison, the average score for the 22-country Global West cohort was 64.74, while the global average across 177 countries was 39.57. The highest score in the Global West group went to Estonia at 74.79, aided by substantial reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions from shale oil power generation.
| Measure | Score |
|---|---|
| Canada | 57.78 |
| Global West average (22 countries) | 64.74 |
| Global average (177 countries) | 39.57 |
| Top Global West performer (Estonia) | 74.79 |
The EPI team singled out three areas where Canada was comparatively weak: climate change, protected lands and fishing. Those gaps help explain the country’s placement against peers that include other high-income democracies.
"The index aims to arm people with data to spark deeper conversations and hold their governments accountable,"
said Zach Wendling, lead researcher on the EPI, in comments cited by CBC News. The researchers compile a wide array of indicators to produce the rankings and emphasise the index as a tool for public discussion rather than a definitive judgement on any one policy.
Implications for policy and public debate
Researchers and analysts who study climate and net-zero policies say the ranking will feed into ongoing conversations about Canada’s pathway to meet emissions and conservation goals. The EPI’s findings come as federal and provincial governments continue to navigate the trade-offs and timelines of climate policy transitions.
Debora Van Nijnatten, a net-zero policy expert at Wilfrid Laurier University, described the current moment as a "climate policy transition period" in a caption accompanying an image in the source reporting. The depiction underscores the tension between policy design and outcomes measured by independent indices such as the EPI.
For Canadians who habitually compare national performance with peer nations, the report reads like a blunt assessment: a score below other advanced economies on key environmental measures. That comparison may sharpen calls for clearer targets, accelerated implementation and better tracking of outcomes across federal and provincial jurisdictions.
- Canada’s overall EPI score: 57.78.
- Areas of weakness: climate change, protected lands and fisheries.
- Index basis: 47 indicators from datasets published between 2022 and early 2026.
What the ranking does — and does not — show
While the EPI offers a broad comparative snapshot, its authors and users note it is one of many tools for assessing environmental performance. Rankings depend on the indicators chosen, the time periods covered and the availability of comparable data across countries. In Canada’s case, the EPI results illuminate specific challenges but do not by themselves prescribe remedy.
Still, the standings provide a focal point for politicians, officials and citizens to evaluate progress. As the federal government and provinces weigh next steps on emissions reductions, land protection and fisheries management, the EPI’s findings will likely figure in public scrutiny of what those policies deliver.
For now, the index leaves Canada with a clear message: relative to its peers in the Global West, there is room for improvement on multiple fronts — and a need for measurable progress that can move the needle on future rankings.
