A large majority of Indians are concerned about various environmental hazards affecting their local areas, according to a recent survey by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. The survey, which polled over 1,000 respondents, found that 87% of Indians are worried about agricultural pests and diseases, while 86% are concerned about the extinction of plant and animal species.
TOP ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS IN INDIA
The survey also found that severe heat waves, droughts, and water shortages are major concerns for Indians, with 85% of respondents citing these issues. Severe air pollution is another significant concern, with 85% of respondents worried about its impact on their health and environment.
Famines and food shortages are also a major concern, with 83% of respondents citing these issues. Other concerns include severe cyclones (76%) and severe floods (71%).
LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: VULNERABILITY AND RESILIENCE
- A large majority of Indians say they are confident that their family and friends (78%), people in their communities (68%), or state and local government (62%) can help their local community prepare for and respond to extreme weather events such as heat waves, floods, or cyclones.
- Large majorities of people in India are already engaged or willing to engage in collective preparedness actions: The survey found that 70% say they are either “already doing this” (13%), or are “definitely” willing to do it (58%).
GLOBAL WARMING AWARENESS AND BELIEFS
- 54% say they know either “just a little” about global warming or have never heard of it, while only 10% say they know “a lot.”
- However, when given a short definition of global warming and how it affects weather patterns, 78% say they think global warming is happening.
- 52% think global warming is caused mostly by human activities, while 38% think it is caused mostly by natural changes in the environment.
- 85% say they have experienced the effects of global warming.
- Majorities think global warming affects weather in their local area (71%) and monsoons in India (76%) either “a lot” or “some.” Global Warming Risk Perceptions
- 91% are worried about global warming, including 59% who are “very worried.”
- Large majorities think global warming will harm plant and animal species (83%), people in India (82%), future generations of people (81%), people in their own community (78%), and themselves and their own family (74%).
- 53% think people in India are already being harmed by global warming.
- Many people in India think global warming will cause “many more” severe heat waves (60%), extinctions of plant and animal species (57%), droughts and water shortages (56%), severe cyclones (54%), famines and food shortages (50%), and severe floods (46%).
- 92% say global warming is either “extremely” (38%), “very” (35%), or “somewhat” important (20%) to them personally.
SUPPORT FOR CLIMATE AND ENERGY POLICIES
- 86% favour the Indian government’s commitment to reduce India’s carbon pollution to nearly zero by 2070.
- 85% say transitioning from coal to wind and solar energy to produce electricity will reduce air pollution, and 82% say doing so would reduce global warming. However, 61% say doing so will increase unemployment in India, 58% say it will cause electricity outages, and 57% say it will increase electricity prices.
- 67% say leaving most of India’s coal in the ground is the best pathway to a healthy, safe, and prosperous future for India.
- 84% favour banning the construction of new coal power plants, closing existing ones, and replacing them with solar and wind energy.
Large majorities favour specific policies:
- A national program to train people for new jobs in the renewable energy industry such as wind and solar (93%). ○ A national program to teach all Indians about global warming (92%).
- A national program to fund women’s groups and Indigenous communities to protect the environment (91%).
- Preserving or expanding forested areas, even if this means less land for agriculture or housing (79%).
- Requiring new buildings to waste less water and energy, even if this increases their cost (77%).
- 78% say the government of India should be doing more to address global warming
- 74% think that overall, taking action to reduce global warming will either improve economic growth and provide new jobs (51%) or have no effect on economic growth or jobs (23%). Only 21% think it will reduce economic growth and cost jobs.
- 61% think India should increase its use of renewable sources of energy, while only 14% think India should increase its use of fossil fuels
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT WITH GLOBAL WARMING
- 85% say they follow environmental issues in the news, and 83% say they discuss environmental issues with their family and friends.
- However, only 33% say they hear about global warming in the media at least once a week.
WILLINGNESS TO TAKE ACTION TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING
- 75% say they would be willing to pay more for energy-efficient appliances to reduce both electricity bills and global warming, including 35% who would be willing to pay up to 10% more, but not more than that.
- 76% say they would be willing to pay more for an electric scooter, motorcycle, or car instead of one that uses petrol or diesel to help reduce both their travel costs and global warming, including 33% who would be willing to pay up to 10% more, but not more than that.
- 6% are already participating in, and 60% are “definitely” willing to join, a citizens’ campaign to convince elected officials to take action to reduce global warming.
VULNERABILITY
- 38% say they had to go without enough clean drinking water for at least one day in the past year.
- 72% say they experience electricity disruptions on a typical day.
- Only 13% say they have an air conditioner at home.
- More than half say their income does not cover their needs and they either have “some difficulties” (27%) or “great difficulties” (38%) as a result.
- 70% say they have few (1 to 5) or no friends or relatives they could count on for help if they were in trouble.