According to a recent report by the Yale Programme on Climate Change Communication and CVoter International, 82% of the Indian public are either alarmed or concerned about global warming. The report, titled “Global Warming’s Four Indias, 2022,” identifies four distinct categories within the Indian population whose responses to climate change vary: The Alarmed, the Concerned, the Cautious, and the Disengaged.
The Alarmed group, which constitutes the majority at 54%, is the most certain about the actuality and dangers of global warming. They are the most receptive to climate and energy policies and the most motivated to take action on their own. The Concerned group, which accounts for 29%, is also convinced that global warming is occurring and poses a significant threat, but they have less information and a less immediate perspective than the Alarmed. The Cautious group, comprising 11% of respondents, believes in global warming but is less certain about its causes and less likely to perceive it as an imminent threat. The Disengaged group, comprising 7% of the population, is the least knowledgeable about global warming and rarely engages with the issue.
Effective communication on climate change requires knowledge of the intended audience, according to the report. The findings should assist various stakeholders, such as governments, journalists, businesses, and advocates, in enhancing their engagement with key audiences regarding climate change and its solutions.
The report also reveals that perceptions of global warming risk vary significantly between the four categories. For instance, the Alarmed and Concerned groups are more likely to believe that global warming will negatively impact them and their families, whereas the Cautious and Disengaged groups are less likely to believe this.
The report identifies several climate and energy policies that are broadly supported by Alarmed, Concerned, and Cautious groups, including the development of national programmes to educate people about global warming and prepare them for employment in the renewable energy industry. Popular policies also include encouraging local communities to construct check dams to increase local water supplies. However, these policies receive less support from the Disengaged group.
Overall, the report indicates that all types of Indians are concerned about climate change, support climate policies, and want their governments to take the initiative. The report is based on a representative telephone survey of 4,619 Indian adults (18+) conducted between October 2021 and January 2022.
