Environmental performance and human development for sustainability: Towards to a new Environmental Human Index

Human Development Index (HDI) and Environmental Performance Index (EPI) are the widely adopted indicators for measuring the sustainable development in socio-economy and environment, respectively. Sustainable development emphasizes the reduction of environmental stress, when improving human welfare and regional equity, and seeks a balance between human development and environmental-ecological cost. It is necessary to link HDI and EPI to assess the socio-ecological sustainability with an integrative manner. An Environmental Human Index (EHI) by combining HDI and EPI is developed by a formula of EHI = (EPI/100)/(1 - HDI) for identifying combined rankings at international and provincial levels. The EHI for China in the decade (2006-2016) was examined. Results indicated that the EHI shows high feasibility in regional sustainable development evaluation. China places 92nd in the EHI, rising from a baseline score of 1.275 in 2006 to a score of 1.937 in 2016, which approximately account for a quarter of the developed countries. Although remarkable progress in human development has been achieved in China, a large range of EPI differences between China and developed countries implied weak environmental performance that should be improved. Results of correlation analysis reflect pressures of intensified urbanization and rapid economic growth on the environment. The EHI scores shown geographic regional differences at the provincial level that reflect development variation in China, eastern coastal region with strong EHI scores, and, the Northwest and Southwest China with low EHI. Finding suitable solutions for solving environmental issues and protecting ecosystem health is crucial to maintain sound, green, and long-term development with social and economic sustainability to achieve SDGs.