“National Geographic developed the Greendex as an important tool for measuring sustainable behaviour and changes in behaviour around the world over time,” said Terry Garcia, chief science and exploration officer at the National Geographic Society. “The 2014 Greendex provides increased insight into what the drivers are for consumers to engage in more environmentally friendly behaviour, such as peer influence and helping people see the connections between humans and the environment. This year we have seen that, although change is coming slowly, consumers are showing positive change in their attitudes about sustainable food choices; this data can help inform behaviour change in other sectors.”
Eric Whan, who directs the Greendex project at GlobeScan, added, “It’s vital that all actors work together to enable substantive reductions in the environmental impact of consumer behaviour around the world. The research underlines that consumers need more encouragement from peers as well as enablement and better leadership from companies and governments to lighten their own impact. That’s why the Greendex is so important.”
The Greendex was launched in 2008 to inform consumers worldwide and motivate sustainable choices. It explores individual consumer behaviour and material lifestyle of 18,000 consumers in 18 countries around the world (14 in 2008), and measures the specific choices and behaviours that contribute most to a consumer’s overall ecological impact – for example, the type of car you drive, the way you heat your house, the kind of foods you eat. A complex algorithm is applied to results to generate an index score – a Greendex score – for each individual respondent, which reflects the relative environmental impact of his or her consumption patterns. Individual scores are averaged to create a mean score for consumers in each country. Combined with questions about cultural drivers and perceptions, the Greendex gives a comprehensive view into the state of sustainable consumption.
Consumers can calculate their own Greendex scores on the National Geographic website and compare their scores to other consumers around the world:
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/greendex/calculator/
They can also examine the Greendex survey results by country, measure their knowledge of green issues and get tips on living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.
The 18 countries surveyed in the 2014 Greendex were Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and the United States. Added since the 2012 Greendex was South Africa, expanding the survey’s reach into the African continent.
Check the following link to read/download the 2014 Greendex Results:
www.nationalgeographic.com/greendex
Source: National Geographic | GlobeScan.
About the National Geographic Society
With a mission to inspire people to care about the planet, the 126-year-old National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest non-profit scientific and educational organizations. Working to inspire, illuminate and teach, the member-supported Society reaches over 600 million people worldwide each month through its media platforms, products and events. National Geographic has funded more than 11,000 research, conservation and exploration projects, and its education programs promote geographic literacy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.
About GlobeScan
GlobeScan is a research consultancy providing global organizations with evidence-based insights to help them set strategy and shape their communications. Companies, multilateral institutions, governments and NGOs trust GlobeScan for its unique expertise across reputation management, sustainability and stakeholder relations. GlobeScan conducts research in over 90 countries and is a signatory to the UN Global Compact. Established in 1987, GlobeScan is an independent, management-owned company with offices in Toronto, London and San Francisco. For more information, visit www.GlobeScan.com.
