The economic crisis is beneficial environmental obligation to reduce

Consumers worldwide are more aware of how their impact on the environment of cotton, stimulated by an awareness that the economic crisis, which causes decreased energy expenditure, according to a study published this week and quoted by AFP.

National Geographic magazine and the institute Globescan polls were held for the second consecutive year an online survey involving 17,000 consumers in 17 countries, assessing their behavior in four areas: housing, transport, food and consumer products.

India, Brazil and China shows the best results.

Americans and Canadians are in the tail ranking in terms of attention to how the impact of their living environment, while the Spaniards, Germans and French make progress.

In Russia and Mexico, but the situation has deteriorated compared to last year. Recession plays an important role in changing consumer behavior in most countries taken into account in the study, the authors noted.

"Economic Bulversarea seems to have been good news for the environment", commented Terry Garcia, vice president of National Geographic, in a press conference in Washington. "But these positive changes in behavior will survive the resumption of economic growth? We hope that the environmental attitudes that consumers take to make savings to become an integral part of their way of life, "he added.

Around 80% of those who took part in the survey explained that money is the main reason which causes them to consume less energy. Over half of them, 55%, it says "very concerned by environmental problems, while 14% are not concerned about them. Six in ten consumers consider that people should consume less, to preserve the environment for future generations. The greatest improvements were noted in terms of housing.

Indians, Chinese, mexicanii, Spanish and French have made progress in saving energy in homes in which they live. Brazilienii who use the most electricity produced from renewable sources. In transport, the Chinese are the ones showing the greatest changes in behavior: 85% of them say they use more bike or walk more, because of increased fuel prices. The study notes that in developing countries, consumers spend less on home maintenance and transport, having in general lower housing or using more bicycle transport or jointly going down more.

" In transport, the Americans remain in last place, although the number of miles traveled has fallen from the wheel well. In turn, followers are brazilienii car sharing with neighbors or friends for going to work. In food, Americans have made serious progress, urcând on the penultimate place on the 13th, and reducing consumption of bottled water and buying more local products.

As regards consumer products, is remarkable and an overall decrease of purchases for the house. Recycling habits have improved in Australia, Canada, France and Germany, while a ninth trend has emerged in the United States, is to repair broken items, instead of buying new ones.

Among consumers, the French are those who use less bags for single use their shopping, while the Chinese do the same thing that is four times lower than when the Government has banned free plastic bags in stores.