UPSC Prelims 2010 Q104: Environment & Ecology – Environmental Governance & Legislation
- (a) It is a measure of efforts made by different countries in adopting technologies for reducing carbon footprint
- (b) It is a measure of environmentally sustainable consumer behaviour in different countries
- (c) It is an assessment of programmes/schemes undertaken by different countries for improving the conservation of natural resources
- (d) It is an index showing the volume of carbon credits sold by different countries
Answer: (b) It is a measure of environmentally sustainable consumer behaviour in different countries
Explanation
What the "Greendex" score measures
The Greendex 2009 survey (National Geographic Society and GlobeScan) ranked countries on a specific consumer-behaviour metric.
| Option | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Effort in adopting carbon-reduction technologies | Incorrect | This describes a technology-adoption metric, not Greendex's actual focus |
| (b) Measure of environmentally sustainable consumer behaviour | Correct | Greendex specifically measures actual consumer behaviour and lifestyle choices (housing, transport, food, consumer goods) across countries, assessing their environmental sustainability |
| (c) Assessment of government programmes for resource conservation | Incorrect | Greendex focuses on individual consumer behaviour, not government programme evaluation |
| (d) Index of carbon credits sold by countries | Incorrect | This describes a separate carbon-trading metric, unrelated to Greendex's consumer-behaviour focus |
Greendex facts:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | National Geographic Society and GlobeScan |
| Measures | Consumer lifestyle sustainability (not government policy or carbon trading) |
| India's rank (2009) | Top-ranked, reflecting relatively sustainable consumer habits |
Answer: (b) It is a measure of environmentally sustainable consumer behaviour in different countries.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Greendex is not specifically about technology-adoption efforts for carbon reduction.
- (b) CORRECT. Greendex measures the environmental sustainability of consumer behaviour and lifestyle choices across countries.
- (c) Incorrect. It evaluates individual consumer behaviour, not government conservation programmes.
- (d) Incorrect. It is unrelated to carbon credit trading volumes.
Key point
Greendex 2009 is a measure of environmentally SUSTAINABLE CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR (lifestyle choices in housing, transport, food, goods) across countries — not government programmes, technology adoption, or carbon credits.
Remember
Greendex 2009: measures environmentally sustainable consumer behaviour across countries; India ranked top.
Common mistakes
- Confusing a consumer-behaviour survey with a government-policy evaluation metric.
- Mixing up Greendex with unrelated carbon-credit trading indices.
- Not knowing the specific National Geographic/GlobeScan survey behind this score.
Exam tip
Greendex = consumer behaviour sustainability survey, by National Geographic and GlobeScan — not a government-policy or carbon-trading metric.
Sources
- National Geographic Society and GlobeScan — Greendex 2009: Consumer Choice and the Environment
- National Geographic Society and GlobeScan — Greendex 2010: Consumer Choice and the Environment