India top in sustainable behaviour!

Surprise! A survey has ranked India top in sustainable behavior. The survey was conducted by the National Geographic Society and research consultancy GlobalScan. The results of the survey were presented in The Annual Greendex report 2012. It was conducted on 17,000 consumers in 17 countries to quantitatively measure the number of environmentally friendly people all around the world. The survey was a measure of consumer behaviour in 65 areas relating to housing, transportation, food and consumer goods.

The results of the survey are shocking, that the people who had the highest footprint (the US) were found to be least bothered about the result of their impacts on the environment. The ‘Greendex’ found that Indians had the most sustainable behaviour, followed by Chinese and Brazilians. Americans ranked last in the survey and France ranked last in
the Europe.

According to the survey, India was on the top with a Greendex score of 58.9, followed by China at 57.8, and then Brazil at 55.5. USA scored 44.7. Despite the highest sustainable behaviour, 45% of the consumers from India and China were found to exhibit guilt over the consequences of their actions.

It would be interesting to get more details on how the survey was analysed for its findings. For instance, is this sustainable behavior a result of inability to consume/buy given low funds? Or was it borne of conscious choices? Probably, the former. Perhaps, a comparison of survey findings with some period n the past would have given a clearer picture whether there is progress. At least, the guilt factor is something that gives hope!