The Alternative Prioritization and Assessment System (ALPAS) Method for Environmental Performance Evaluation

This study aims to evaluate the environmental performance of G7 countries using the Environmental Performance Index. To do this, we introduce a novel ranking multi-criteria method, Alternative Prioritization and Assessment System, for the first time in the literature. It offers a useful contribution to the multi-criteria decision-making field by tackling several ranking problems, such as low interpretability, a lack of dual evaluation metrics, and limited flexibility in data-driven scenarios. Moreover, three advanced multi-criteria decision-making weighting methods are used to assign weights to the environmental performance criteria. Therefore, the proposed Alternative Prioritization and Assessment System-based methodology evaluates the environmental performance of G7 countries in reaching sustainable development goals. The results show that the waste recovery rate is the paramount indicator, while unsafe drinking water has the least significance. Germany is ranked as the top-performing country, while Japan is ranked lowest. The key contribution of this research lies in the development and implementation of the Alternative Prioritization and Assessment System method, offering enhanced ranking stability, transparency, and dual-perspective evaluation. The use of the Environmental Performance Index further supports replicability and policy relevance. The proposed model can guide environmental policy formulation and benchmarking efforts among industrialized nations. It also provides a robust framework for cross-national sustainability comparisons in future research.