Dynamic environmental performance assessment through the lens of SDG 7 and SDG 13: the case of EU countries
Journal of Decision Making and Healthcare, Volume 2, Issue 3, December 2025, Pages: 199–209
CHENG-FENG HU
Department of Applied Mathematics, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, Taiwan
YI-YANG WU
Department of Applied Mathematics, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, Taiwan
JUNG-TAI LEE
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, Taiwan
Abstract
Climate change mitigation directly benefits from the deployment of sustainable energy services. Integrating climate change strategies into national policies can also accelerate the adoption of sustainable energy solutions. This work employed a data envelopment analysis-based environmental performance index, constructed in accordance with the Hicks-Moorsteen productivity framework, to assess the dynamic performance of decision-making units in advancing toward sustainable energy targets (SDG7) and climate change mitigation objectives (SDG13). The present analysis is based on the environmental technology defined in terms of renewable energy consumption, net capital stock, labor force, Gross Domestic Product (DDP), carbon emission, and climate change performance index (CCPI). An application on assessing the environmental performance of European Union (EU) countries from 2014 to 2023 is included. Additional validation and analysis with respect to the mean environmental performance index and its rate of growth are implemented to monitor the dynamic performance trends of EU countries over time. The analysis results suggest that EU countries can be categorized into four clusters based on their mean EPI and its growth rate. Poland ranks among the top performers with the highest mean EPI and growth rate, while Estonia shows the lowest performance, and should be prioritized in sustainability strategies. It is expected that this research will provide the EU policymakers with valuable information for investigating EU countries' progress towards the sustainable energy and climate change mitigation goals.
Cite this Article as
Cheng-Feng Hu, Yi-Yang Wu and Jung-Tai Lee, Dynamic environmental performance assessment through the lens of SDG 7 and SDG 13: the case of EU countries, Journal of Decision Making and Healthcare, 2(3), 199–209, 2025