Developing a provincial environmental performance index for the environmental health of Vietnam

This research develops the 2020 environmental health performance index (EHPI) of Vietnam to measure the progress made by individual provinces toward achieving national environmental performance targets. Six indicators that nest under three issue categories (Air Quality, Water Quality, and Solid Waste Management) are constructed. We follow and extend the Global EPI methodology for aggregating single indicators into a composite index to create our provincial EHPI of Vietnam, which takes into account the availability of quantitative data and the indicators that support the assessment of overall environmental quality in the provinces. We use the PA method as a straightforward weighting technique to determine the priorities of the different attributes of sustainable composite indicators. The results take the form of PTT scores for the individual indicators and EHPI color-coded star ratings for the 63 provinces of Vietnam. Results are clearly presented in tables, graphs, and maps. In-depth analysis of the PTT scorings per specific issue category and indicator provides valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of provinces that can aid information-based decision-making. In order to improve air pollution, the study’s findings indicate the need for management by region and inter-provincial cooperation. The results, viewed in light of the PAPI findings on environmental governance, show that the populous have not properly evaluated the environmental performance of the provincial authorities. In order to improve this, Vietnam’s local government must focus on presenting and managing three kinds of basic environmental information to their constituents.