Indians are world's 'greenest': Survey

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indians-are-worlds-greenest-Survey/articleshow/4527041.cms


Indians are world's 'greenest': Survey

...Indians may be green with envy at the consumption-driven lifestyle in the West, but their own frugal ways and modest means have catapulted them to the top spot in the world's Green index, making them the most environmental-friendly denizens of Planet Earth.

The second annual survey conducted by the National Geographic Society and international polling firm GlobeScan on environmentally sustainable behaviour, the results of which were released on Wednesday, showed that Indian consumers have overtaken Brazilians to take the top spot with a Greendex score of 59.5. The Chinese retained the third spot with 55.2. At the bottom of the ladder in the 17-country survey are over-consumptive Americans (43.7), Canadians (43.5) and Japanese (49.3).

So, what has put Indians at the top of the Green ladder? It was driven by above-average performance on all four sub-indices, including first-place rankings for food and goods. Indians are the most frequent consumers of self-grown food, with 35% eating what they grow several times a week or daily. Desis are also the least frequent consumers of beef, which requires greater energy to grow—only 22% consume beef weekly compared to an average of 63% for the 17 countries surveyed.

Indian consumers also topped the goods sub-index score. Their top status is due in part to having lower-than-average rates of ownership of large appliances and electronics. Also, the rate of those buying used goods, avoiding environmentally unfriendly products and excessive packaging, and buying environmentally friendly products is the highest...

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Vegetarianism is widespread in India.

Then, you've got some of the worst poverty in a developed nation in the world, there, as well. Put a goodly chunk of the poor into the middle class and they'd be in a different category altogether.

There is hardly any winter in most of India. However Summer is brutal. But most Indians do not have airconditioners and rely on ceiling fans.

If it means I have to live like an impoverished Indian.

we may end up living that way, like it or not.