Environmental Safety and Self-Perceived Quality of Life and Health: The Example of the European Union

Increasing environmental threats and accelerating effects of climate change serve to reinforce the perception of environmental safety not only as an ecological concern but also as a social and economic one. The extant research suggests that environmental factors have a significant impact on health and quality of life. However, the literature still lacks comprehensive analysis integrating objective environmental indicators with subjective measures of quality of life in a comparative and dynamic framework, particularly in European Union (EU) countries. The primary objective of this paper is to evaluate the environmental safety within European Union countries and its impact on self-perceived quality of life and health. The analysis integrates the multidimensional environmental indicators with subjective assessments of quality of life. To this end, the TOPSIS method is employed to construct a synthetic index for environmental safety (ESScore). Moreover, pooled cross-sectional time-series regressions are utilised for formal analyses. The study encompasses data from 27 EU countries from 2018 to 2023. The findings of the study suggest that environmental safety exhibits considerable variation among EU countries yet remains relatively stable over time. This underscores the enduring nature of environmental advantages and deficits. Countries with superior environmental safety are also those which have been shown to exhibit a higher quality of life and better health. Proactive environmental investments and activities aimed at sustainable growth have the capacity to improve the quality of life of the population. However, some factors, such as high air emission intensity or excessive water abstraction may be challenging. The findings of this study demonstrate a significant relationship between environmental protection initiatives and social prosperity within European nations, thus offering valuable insights that can inform the development of public policy.