Table 1 Environment-related SDG indicators ranked by the Goal Sustainability Index (GSI) and their alignment with the SDG taxonomies of United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)

1

1.79

6.D

sdg6_wastewat

Anthropogenic wastewater that receives treatment

6.3.1

Match

1.08

7.A

sdg7_cleanfuel

Population with access to clean fuels and technology for cooking

7.1.2

Closely aligned

0.83

3.H

sdg3_pollmort

Age-standardized death rate attributable to household air pollution and ambient air pollution

3.9.1

Match

0.79

14.B

sdg14_cleanwat

Ocean Health Index: Clean Waters score

14.1.1

Closely aligned

2

0.27

14.C

sdg14_cpma

Mean area that is protected in marine sites important to biodiversity

14.5.1

Closely aligned

0.27

2.C

sdg2_pestexp

Exports of hazardous pesticides

3.9

Closely aligned

0.19

15.D

sdg15_forchg

Permanent deforestation

15.2

Closely aligned

0.05

7.D

sdg7_renewcon

Renewable energy share in total final energy consumption

7.2.1

Match

−0.03

11.B

sdg11_pm25

Annual mean concentration of particulate matter of less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5)

11.6.2

Match

−0.21

14.E

sdg14_fishstocks

Fish caught from overexploited or collapsed stocks

14.4.1

Closely aligned

−0.27

15.C

sdg15_cpta

Mean area that is protected in terrestrial sites important to biodiversity

15.1.2

Match

−0.30

15.B

sdg15_cpfa

Mean area that is protected in freshwater sites important to biodiversity

15.1.2

Match

−0.34

14.D

sdg14_discard

Fish caught that are then discarded

14.4

Closely aligned

−0.34

14.F

sdg14_trawl

Fish caught by trawling or dredging

14.4

Closely aligned

−0.57

15.E

sdg15_redlist

Red List Index of species survival

15.5.1

Match

−0.65

2.D

sdg2_snmi

Sustainable Nitrogen Management Index

2.4

Closely aligned

−0.72

13.A

sdg13_co2export

CO2 emissions embodied in fossil fuel exports

13.2

Closely aligned

−0.82

6.A

sdg6_freshwat

Freshwater withdrawal

6.4.2

Match

−0.95

7.B

sdg7_co2twh

CO2 emissions from fuel combustion per total electricity output

7.2

Closely aligned

3

−1.26

12.B

sdg12_explastic

Exports of plastic waste

12.4

Closely aligned

−1.40

14.A

sdg14_biomar

Marine biodiversity threats embodied in imports

14.4

Closely aligned

−1.54

12.E

sdg12_nprod

Production-based nitrogen emissions

9.4

Closely aligned

−1.59

12.D

sdg12_nimport

Nitrogen emissions embodied in imports

9.4

Closely aligned

−1.59

13.C

sdg13_co2import

CO2 emissions embodied in imports

13.2

Closely aligned

−1.62

12.A

sdg12_ewaste

Electronic waste

12.4.2

Match

−1.64

15.A

sdg15_biofrwter

Terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity threats embodied in imports

15.5

Closely aligned

−1.66

12.F

sdg12_so2import

SO2 emissions embodied in imports

9.4

Closely aligned

−1.67

6.C

sdg6_scarcew

Scarce water consumption embodied in imports

6.4

Closely aligned

−1.67

12.C

sdg12_msw

Municipal solid waste

12.5

Closely aligned

−1.76

13.B

sdg13_co2gcp

CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion and cement production

13.2.2

Closely aligned

−1.84

12.G

sdg12_so2prod

Production-based SO2 emissions

9.4

Closely aligned