Indian minds and climate change

A nationally representative survey of 2178 Indian adults (18+) was conducted by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and CVoter from September 5, 2023, to November 1, 2023. More than 90% of people interviewed said they were “worried” about global warming, compared to the 61% per cent in 2011 and 81% in 2022.

As the Executive Summary of the report, titled ‘Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2023’, on the Yale website states the study was designed to investigate current public climate change awareness, beliefs, attitudes, policy support, behaviour, and self-reported vulnerability to extreme weather events. This study builds on the prior ‘Climate Change in the Indian Mind’ surveys, which were conducted by Yale researchers in November and December, 2011 (n = 4031), and October 2021 to January 2022 (n = 4619). Where applicable, the report describes differences in opinion among the Indian public since they conducted our previous surveys in 2021–2022 and 2011.

Key findings of this report show that 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.”

The report highlights that 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 also 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.

The report found that large majorities in India are either engaged or willing to engage in lifestyle changes to protect the environment. When they were asked how willing they are to make big changes in their daily life in order to protect the environment, a large majority of people in India (93%) say they are either “already doing this” (25%) or are “definitely” willing to do it (54%). Many said that they are either “already doing this” (26%) when asked about persuading their family and friends to take environment-friendly actions or are “definitely” willing to do it (52%). 89%) said they were already publicly demonstrating environment-friendly actions in order to influence others or are “definitely” willing to do it (51%).

Data from the report showed that 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.

As the Introduction to the report explains, climate change and the Indian society are both highly complex, and no single study can do service to their full richness and diversity. Nonetheless, this study takes an in-depth and rigorous look at some of the key dimensions of these issues in India. This research is intended to contribute to both scientific and public understanding and dialogue about these issues and provide useful information for the Indian climate change community.