ESG-GED Index: National Quarterly Pollution Damage in the U.S Economy

A group of charts are presented next representing the pollution damage in the United States. Bypass this information

As of late 2021, air pollution and greenhouse gases combined to cause public health and environmental damage (GED) equivalent to 6% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the U.S. Over the last five to ten years, GED damages from air pollution and greenhouse gases averaged about 5% of GDP.

National Pollution Damage Data

Indices

What the ESG-GED Index Measures

The Carnegie Mellon ESG-GED Index is a first-of-its-kind measure of U.S. companies’ environmental performance. Focusing on Gross External Damage (or GED) the indices track environmental performance in monetary terms ($) — rather than standard ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) indices that measure emissions in tons. This allows analysts to assess companies’ performance over multiple pollutants and to adjust company value to reflect environmental damages.