Despite great strides toward environmental conservation and the protection of human health among world nations following last year's , many countries are still failing to make the grade.

According to the recently 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) from researchers at Yale and Columbia universities — which evaluates 180 countries based on metrics related towater resource protection, air quality, waste management, forest preservation, biodiversity and a number of other factors — the countries that scored the worst were comprised mostly of African countries, as well as several South and East Asian nations.

The investigators who produced the report described these countries as "struggling states whose problems extend beyond their inability to sustain environmental and human health."

Performing the worst in the report was Somalia, in last place, followed by Eritrea, Madagascar, Niger and Afghanistan. Unsafe water, poor air, lackluster sewage treatment infrastructureand extensive deforestation plague these countries.

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"While many environmental problems are the result of industrialization, our findings show that both poor and wealthy nations suffer from serious air pollution," Angel Hsu, lead author of the report, said in a press release. "The EPI shows that focused, coordinated global efforts are essential to make progress on global goals and to save lives."

Conversely, the countries that scored the best in environmental performance included Finland (first), with Iceland, Sweden and Denmark not far behind. The United States ranked 26th best on the list and has gone up due to increased marine wildlife protections and air quality improvements.

Read the full report , courtesy of Yale University.

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