The Chinese have a light environmental impact—and, paradoxically, a lot of green guilt.

The National Geographic Society and GlobeScan‘s Greendex report had some disheartening findings this year for Americans: We are the nation that is ranked last in the world for sustainable behavior, and yet we’re also the most optimistic about our individual actions having a positive impact on the environment. That is to say: Americans are colossally delusional when it comes to our own sustainable practices.

The Greendex is a massive survey that questions 17,000 consumers in over 17 countries on their housing, transportation and food choices. Among these countries, which include China, Brazil and India, the United States has the least environmentally conscious consumers on the planet. And the United States has ranked last on the survey every year since it was started, in 2008.

GlobeScan’s director of sustainability, Eric Whan, points a finger at our culture of consumption. “Greenwashing” gives many Americans the idea that they can buy their way into eco-consciousness, without taking into account the sheer volume of consumption. Americans are also the most likely to drive alone in a car or truck; the least likely to take public transportation, and the least likely to walk or ride a bike to their destination. Yet only 21 percent of Americans felt guilty about their impact on the environment.

On the plus side, Americans were most likely to buy used goods, and they’re relatively more likely to recycle—although Canadian, German, British and Australian consumers all recycle more. Moreover, the United States Department of Agriculture’s certification program makes it easier for Americans to find and purchase organic produce.

Consumers in India, China and Brazil have a much lighter environmental impact on the whole, even as they report greater feelings of guilt regarding their own sustainable practices. Whan speculates that in countries where the green guilt is higher, there’s a greater sense that environmental issues have real impacts on peoples’ health and quality of life.

Nicole Darnall, a researcher at the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University who was not involved in the survey, speculated that green guilt might be the least in those countries that are still debating whether climate change is an issue. In general, people were more inclined to report themselves as being more environmentally responsible than they already were. At the very least, knowing that there is a such a wide gap between our attitudes and our practices might give us all a little push to overcome it.

Curious about how you measure up? Calculate your own Greendex score here.

Image: johnmcga

The post Greendex Reports Americans The Least Eco-Conscious appeared first on EcoSalon.

We hope we are making a dent in consumer behavior – helping to foster changes that will save us money while slowing the destruction and pollution of resources – our oceans, habitats, energy and wildlife. Are environmentalists making inroads in bringing it all to a halt?

Results of a survey measuring global progress shows some of the wealthiest nations which have a greater impact on the environment – Japan, the U.S. and Canada – come in last in this effort.

The second annual study by National Geographic and the international polling firm GlobeScan monitored consumer progress toward environmentally sustainable consumption in 17 countries around the world, evaluating a total of 17,000 of us.

Are we conserving energy, driving hybrids or taking public transportation, opting for green products over traditional ones, recycling and reusing and gaining knowledge of environmental issues?

In answering “yes” to those crucial questions, the developing economies of India, Brazil and China ranked the highest, just as they did in 2008. But this year, Argentina and South Korea, both new additions to the survey, tied for fourth as top-scoring consumers, followed by Mexicans, Hungarians and Russians. Europeans and Australians are next. The Japanese, U.S. and Canadian consumers are the lowest again, as they were in 2008.

The survey did find there has been an increase in environmentally friendly consumer behavior in 13 of the 14 countries that were surveyed in both 2008 and 2009. (This year’s survey added consumers from three countries, for a total of 17.)

According to the results, the Greendex survey identifies several types of eco-friendly behavior that have increased and resulted in cost savings for consumers.

Consumers in 11 of the 14 countries surveyed in 2008 and 2009 are saving energy in their homes by controlling the heating and cooling thermostats. You’ll also be glad to know washing laundry in cold water and air drying to save energy is catching on in nine countries surveyed in both years. And choosing used household items and repairing broken items rather than tossing and buying new is becoming more widespread.

Observers of the survey say the upside is that scores overall are up from last year, despite the collapse of the economy as we knew it. The results also send the message to manufacturers that if you build it green, we will come and get it. Consumers want to make the right choices when given the chance.

Interested in taking your own Greendex survey? Go ahead and let us know how you are doing in the green department!

Image: Insider

The post Greendex Gives U.S. Consumers a Failing Grade on Going Green appeared first on EcoSalon.