An environmental barrier coating for a component including silicon that has a first coefficient of thermal expansion is provided. The environmental coating includes a silicon bondcoat that is bonded to at least a portion of an outer surface of the component. An intermediate layer is bonded to the silicon bondcoat and has a second coefficient of thermal expansion matched to the first coefficient of thermal expansion. The intermediate layer has a general composition of RE.sub.2Si.sub.2O.sub.7. A protective layer is bonded to the intermediate layer and has a general composition of RE.sub.2SiO.sub.5. A surface layer is bonded to the protective layer. The surface layer includes RE and has a ratio of RE to oxygen of at least 2:3.