In 2007 the ESPF group produced the first Environment Sustainability Index (ESI) for Indian states. The ESI is a quantitative measure of the state of the environment in each Indian state, calculated by integrating 44 datasets covering a wide range of environmental issues into 15 indicators and 5 policy components that capture key dimensions of the state of the environment. The 28 states are ranked according to their relative performance on all variables.

The ESI aims to raise public awareness by sensitizing people to environmental degradation. It also aims to create baseline data of environmental performances of states that can be used in the future to analyse trends and patterns and to contribute to decision making by policy makers, industries and individuals. The best performing state in the current ranking is Manipur followed by Jammu and Kashmir and Tripura. Whereas these states are sustaining their stocks of natural resources and exerting lower impacts on environment and health, states like Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana have diminished stocks of natural resources particularly in terms of air and water quality.

The variables and indicators in the ESI reveal that most states are facing population pressure, unsustainable levels of consumption and pollution problems. Interestingly, the Index reveals that while some states have done well on some issues and poorly on others, in absolute terms no state has scored very low or very high on all 15 indicators. In other words there still remains ground for hope if a concerted effort to reach sustainable development goals is made immediately.