To provide quantitative metrics for evaluating a country's environmental performance in different policy categories relative to clearly defined targets.

To create a comparative index of national-level environmental sustainability and to provide a mechanism for making environmental management more quantitative, empirically grounded and systematic.

To provide insights into the processes that can negatively influence the sustainable development of countries, with particular reference to vulnerability to natural hazards.

To provide a comparative index of national-level environmental sustainability covering a number of sustainability dimensions.