It's a miracle!

Malaysia is in the 2006 Environmental Performance Index's top ten list (tag). Tenth out of 133 countries. Well, ninth or tenth. We're tied with Ireland. What does the index measure? Well, according to the New York Times:

United States Ranks 28th on Environment, a New Study Says

By FELICITY BARRINGER
Published: January 23, 2006

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 - A pilot nation-by-nation study of environmental performance shows that just six nations - led by New Zealand, followed by five from Northern Europe - have achieved 85 percent or better success in meeting a set of critical environmental goals ranging from clean drinking water and low ozone levels to sustainable fisheries and low greenhouse gas emissions.

The official site for the index at Yale says:

By identifying specific targets for environmental performance and measuring how close each country comes to these established goals, the Pilot 2006 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) provides benchmarks for current national pollution control and natural resource management results. The issue-by-issue and aggregate rankings facilitate cross-country comparisons both globally and within relevant peer groups. The EPI thus provides a powerful tool for improving policymaking and shifting environmental decisionmaking onto firmer analytic foundations.

I find this quite surprising given that Malaysians do not have a well-developed sense of environmental stewardship. Recent illegal toxic waste case, controversial logging activities and everything that happened last year sort of convinced me that Malaysia would perform badly in any environmental index. But I suppose, Malaysia has achieved many environmental goals like clean water and other environmental needs that allow low mortality rate.

But then, the index includes variables such as biodiversity. Given Malaysia's a tropical country, it shouldn't be too astounding that the country would score well in that and other similar subindicies. Still Malaysia scores quite well in places like environmental health (38/133), air (13/133) and water quality (33/133). Regarding air quality, seriously, the researchers probably weren't in Malaysia last year when the granddady of all hazes hit us. Still, that was caused by outside factor. So, can't really blame Malaysia. And water shortage is increasingly becoming a major issue in Malaysia.

Lastly, Malaysia scores badly in renewable energy, sitting at the 98th place. This shows how Malaysia relies heavily on carbon-based fuel. This is even more apparent given that Malaysia emits 352 tonnes of carbon per GDP - that's worse than the worst polluter in the world, United States. In Asia Pacific, only mainland China, Mongolia and Vietnam are less efficient than Malaysia.

The index will be presented in Davos for the World Economic Forum, of which, our Prime Minister thinks, attending it, is not worth his effort. WEF begins this week. Alright, alright. I'm digressing and being unfair.

Overall, there's a bright future for Malaysia after all. But maybe not too bright if we don't stop the rot. Orang utans are facing extinction and we could experience a drop in biodiversity score. But, surely, you and I know an extinction means more than a drop in ranking. Much more.