The National Geographic Society released a green index that ranks countries based on the sustainability. The bad news: Canada is among the worst (and will continue to decline as we ramp up our oil sands processing on the way to becoming an “energy super-power"). But the Greendex does not focus on governments and industry, it zooms in on what consumers in those countries are doing ranking them accordingly.

The findings show that consumers in Brazil and India tie for the highest Greendex score for environmentally sustainable consumption at 60 points each. They are followed by consumers in China (56.1), Mexico (54.3), Hungary (53.2) and Russia (52.4). Among consumers in wealthy countries, those in Great Britain, Germany and Australia each have a Greendex score of 50.2, those in Spain register a score of 50.0 and Japanese respondents 49.1. U.S. consumers have the lowest Greendex score at 44.9. The other lowest-scoring consumers are Canadians with 48.5 and the French with 48.7.

And the details of what we do wrong?

They have larger homes and are more likely to have air-conditioning.
Generally own more cars, drive alone most frequently and use public transport infrequently.
Least likely to buy environmentally friendly products and to avoid environmentally unfriendly products.
U.S. consumers scored worse than those in any other country, developing or developed, on housing, transportation and goods. They are by far the least likely to use public transportation, to walk or bike to their destinations or to eat locally grown foods.
They have among the largest average residence size in the survey. Only 15 percent say they minimize their use of fresh water.

For more information on how we are really bad stewards of our environment, download the complete PDF.