The 2022 Environmental Performance Index provides a data-driven summary of the state of sustainability around the world.

Using 40 indicators across 11 categories, the EPI ranks 180 countries based on their performance on climate change, environmental health and ecosystem vitality. These indicators make it possible to assess the extent with which countries are approaching the objectives set in terms of environmental policy. The EPI offers a scorecard that highlights leaders and stragglers in environmental performance, as well as providing practical guidance for countries aspiring to move towards a sustainable future.

Luxembourg's overall score puts it in 6th position, behind Denmark, Great Britain, Finland, Malta and Sweden. In several targeted categories, the Grand Duchy's score is significantly lower, noting a slight decline in its performance over the last 10 years in terms of recycling, which puts it in 12th place. The air quality is also a little worse (11th) than neighbour France (10th). The loss of forest cover in Luxembourg has also affected its ranking, putting it in 92nd place behind Kenya. Despite this result, the vitality of Luxembourg's ecosystem still seems healthy, placing it in 4th position.

Luxembourg still ranks highly when it comes to waste management. This category recognises the threats solid waste poses to human and environmental health. It is based on three indicators: controlled solid waste, recycling rates and plastic pollution of the oceans.

Best practices for policy

EPI indicators can help spot issues, set goals, track trends, and understand results with the aim of identifying the best practices for policy. The data and factual analysis can help governments improve their policy agendas, facilitate communication with key stakeholders, and maximise the return on environmental investments. The EPI offers a powerful policy tool to support efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and move society towards a more sustainable future.

The EPI's global rankings indicate the countries that best meet the environmental challenges faced by each nation, going beyond aggregate scores and digging into the data to analyse performance by issue category, policy objective, peer group and country. This can provide even greater value to political decision makers, helping them to understand what determines environmental progress, as well as refining their policy choices.