Brazil, India have “greenest” lifestyle; US trails

[Karl]

Inhabitants of Brazil and India have the world’s most environmentally-sustainable lifestyle and Americans have the least, according to a new study tracking global attitudes towards consumption and the environment. The survey by the National Geographic Society establishes a “Greendex” - an index measuring the economic impact of consumer lifestyle choices - in four key areas: housing, transportation, food and goods. Researchers noted that the lifestyles of people in developing countries tend to have fewer adverse effects on the environment than people in developed countries. Inhabitants of developing countries are more likely to live in smaller homes, own relatively few appliances, and walk, cycle or use public transportation. However, the index rankings could change as growing economic prosperity allows consumers to spend more.

Below are the fourteen nations surveyed in order of how “green” they are:

1. Brazilians
2. India
3. Chinese
4. Mexicans
5. Hungarians
6. Russians
7. British
8. Germans
9. Australians
10. Spanish
11. Japanese
12. French
13.Canadians
14. Americans

The study suggested that people can lower their “Greendex” by eating less meat and drinking less bottled water; ensuring their houses are energy efficient and keeping the heat and air conditioning at lower settings; owning less televisions and computers; and driving less and using more mass transit.

Sources:
Brazil, India have 'greenest' lifestyle, US trails | CorporateResponsibility.Net
Americans least environmental, according to a new survey

[forfismum]

Originally Posted by Karl

owning less televisions and computers; and driving less and using more mass transit.

You just had to mention that ,didn't you ? Are you blaming me for Ireland's failure to show on the list of goody goodies?
Just for that I am leaving my flock of computers switched on all day and if Florida sinks,then hard luck.

[Karl]

It looks like these 14 countries were the only ones in the surveyed, so its not that Ireland didn't make it on the list (map, Are You As Green As India & China? : EcoWorldly)

...maybe National Geographic thought that since the main British island was covered, the outlying ones would be about the same. But if it’s any compensation, you could always check your personal “greendex” using the questionnaire from the survey: Greendex: Survey of Sustainable Consumption - National Geographic

[forfismum]

Originally Posted by Karl

...maybe National Geographic thought that since the main British island was covered, the outlying ones would be about the same.

But we have not been British since 1948,we were a "free state" from 1922 until then after 900 years of Sassanach occupation

[forfismum]

OK enough teasing
Ireland is prolly in the top 3 of the worlds wealthiest nations right now and this booming economy has its downsides.After years of relative poverty lots of people need to show off by buying the biggest 4x4's and Tv's etc and worst of all by building grotesque and obscene housing in the formerly clean rural areas.Common sense is returning slowly and the excessess are being reigned in but we will show up badly on any environmental survey for a while yet.

[spadlet]

Originally Posted by Karl

...maybe National Geographic thought that since the main British island was covered, the outlying ones would be about the same.

Like Forfi said, Ireland is a completely separate country, it has it's own curency, EU membership and everything. Wales and Scotland keep hedging their bets for independance too. They currently have their own assemblies and different levels of independance from the English Parliament. They also seem to have different policies on how their countries should obtain electricity. Think if the place more as the 'disunited kingdom'

[Karl]

National Geographic’s Terry Garcia explanation of the “Greendex 2008” :

E&ETV -- Video Guide -- OnPoint: 05/12/2008

The survey was intended to provide a snapshot on consumer choices (house size, appliances, meat consumption, bottled water, usual transport means, etc.), as well as general attitudes towards environmental issues – not about the performance of the country as a whole. It’s about the people and the sustainability of their lifestyle / consumer behaviour, regardless of the individual government policies, etc. They intend to repeat these Greendex rankings each year to obtain trends.

[UrbanFarmboy]

If you want to live in a mud hut with no electricity be my guest.

Reports like this make me want to pour gas on the ground and light it on fire.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by UrbanFarmboy

Reports like this make me want to pour gas on the ground and light it on fire.

I didn't see "arson" on the survey list, so while that is not a very environmentally friendly thing to do, it would not have an effect on your personal "greendex" ranking