China has repeatedly been called a "severely polluted" country by the west, but Chinese consumers achieved the third highest Greendex score, which ranks countries by the green consumption patterns of its citizens, according to the "2010 Greendex Report" released by the U.S.-based National Geographic Society on June 5.

Indian consumers earned the highest Greendex score because their consumer pattern is the most environmentally friendly and sustainable.

American consumers scored only 45 points and ranked last quite unexpectedly.

Although Chinese consumers have remained in third place since the inception of the survey three years ago, it does not mean that China has not made any progress in green consumption. According to the Greendex rankings, Chinese consumers scored 55.2 points in 2008, 56.7 points in 2009 and 57.3 points in 2010. While the increase in China's Greendex score is not significant, the trend is in a positive direction. 

The Greendex report said China has attached the greatest importance to environmental protection out of any other country and large numbers of Chinese consumers take environmental protection as the most important thing. They often discuss ways to solve tough problems such as the global climate change and environmental pollution, and strongly advocate green consumption behavior.

The report said 9 percent of Chinese consumers were concerned about global environmental issues in 2008 and the figure rapidly rose to 22 percent in 2009 and to 37 percent in 2010. Although Indian consumers earned the highest Greendex score, only 14 percent of them are concerned about global environmental issues, not even half of the percentage of Chinese consumers.