fifa

As a resident of The Netherlands for a couple of years, I caught a slight football (for Americans, soccer) fever and follow thholland-fans-fulle sport somewhat.  So of course I’m excited about the World Cup and the good (and lucky) start by the USA as well as the just-ended match in which the Dutch team has opened Group E with a win over Denmark.  Hup, Hup, Holland!  Go USA!

Building on this theme, we thought we’d also share with you two other resources in the larger planetary competition – that is, which countries are most aware of, most capable of, and most active in reducing their contribution to global climate change?

The other World Cup – who’s doing the most in the area of environmental sustainability?

We found two interesting measurements of this.

National Geographic’s Greendex(TM) – a survey of sustainable consumption

First, we found Greendex(TM) – a program run by National Geographic

Greendex is made up of four components:

  1. Qualitative survey of experts
  2. 17-country quantitative survey
  3. Greendex calculations
  4. Market Basket

So Greendex gives significant detail, but on a limited number of countries:

  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • Hungary
  • India
  • Japan
  • Mexico
  • Russia
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

We encourage you to check this out.  As a project manager, it’s important for you to understand the context and full spectrum of stakeholders in the countries in which your project is taking place.  In fact, you can make this personal by taking the quick but challenging 5-question Knowledge Quiz on the National Geographic site and compare your score with colleagues worldwide.  The link to Greendex is here and also in the title of this section.  Find a PDF summary of the Greendex survey here.  OK., you want the bottom line?  India is in first place, and the United States is in last place in 2010.  Stunning.

Yale University’s EPI

Secondly, we found the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) which is run by Yale University.  Taken directly from the EPI site, here is the description of this index:

The 2010 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranks 163 countries on 25 performance indicators tracked across ten policy categories covering both environmental public health and ecosystem vitality. These indicators provide a gauge at a national government scale of how close countries are to established environmental policy goals.
The EPI is a sophisticated and detailed survey.  There is much to be learned even from the set of metrics that it uses to compare the 163 countries.  Again, you want the bottom line?  Iceland is in first place, and Sierra Leone is in last place in the EPI study for 2010.
The connection to project management
Again, we assert that there is a strong connection here.  As above, PMs should be aware of the context in which they work.  Secondly, the surveys give you an idea where the “action is” in terms of green projects.   Get smart about this – whatever your views on climate disruption and politics – and be better prepared for your projects.
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