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climate
change in the
indian mind
2022
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 1
Table of Contents
Executive Summary 3
Introduction 5
1 Global Warming Awareness and Beliefs 8
2 Global Warming Risk Perceptions 12
3 Support for Climate and Energy Policies 17
4 Global Warming in the Media 23
5 Global Warming Activism 24
6 Local Weather Events: Observations, Vulnerabilities, and Resilience 25
Appendix I: Methods 31
Appendix II: Demographic Tables 32
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 2
This report is based on findings from a nationally representative survey of adults (18+) in India
conducted by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (YPCCC) and the Centre for
Voting Opinion & Trends in Election Research (CVoter). Interview dates: October 21, 2021 – January
9, 2022. Interviews: 4,619 adults. Average margin of error: +/- 1.4 percentage points at the 95%
confidence level.
Principal Investigators:
Anthony Leiserowitz, PhD
Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
Jagadish Thaker, PhD
University of Auckland
For all media and other inquiries, please email:
Yale Program on Climate Change Communication:
Lisa Fernandez (lisa.fernandez@yale.edu) and (jon.ozaksut@yale.edu)
Cite as:
Leiserowitz, A., Thaker, J., Carman, J., Neyens, L., Rosenthal, S., Deshmukh, Y., Shukla G., Marlon, J.,
Sircar, A., & Sekoff, S. (2022). Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022. Yale University. New Haven,
CT: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 3
Executive Summary
From October 21, 2021, to January 9, 2022, a research team from the Yale Program on Climate
Change Communication and CVoter conducted a nationally representative survey of 4,619 Indian
adults (18+). The study was designed to investigate current public climate change awareness, beliefs,
attitudes, policy support, and behavior, as well as public observations of change in local weather and
climate patterns and self-reported vulnerability to extreme weather events.
This study builds on our prior Climate Change in the Indian Mind survey, which was conducted in
November and December, 2011 (n = 4,031). Where applicable, we describe differences in opinion
among the Indian public in the decade since we conducted our previous survey.
Among the key findings of this report:
Global Warming Awareness and Beliefs
● 54% of people in India say they know either “just a little” about global warming or have never
heard of it, while only 9% say they know “a lot.”
● Additionally, only 35% of people in India say they hear about global warming in the media at
least once a week.
● However, when given a short definition of global warming and how it affects weather patterns,
84% of people in India say they think global warming is happening (15 percentage points higher
than in 2011).
● 57% think global warming is caused mostly by human activities, while 31% think it is caused
mostly by natural changes in the environment.
● 74% say that they have experienced the effects of global warming (+24 percentage points since
2011).
Global Warming Risk Perceptions
● 81% of people in India are worried about global warming, including 50% who are “very
worried.”
● Large majorities think global warming will harm plant and animal species (80%), people in
India (77%), future generations of people (77%), people in their own community (72%), and
themselves and their own family (69%).
● 49% think people in India are already being harmed by global warming (+29 since 2011).
● Half or more think global warming will cause many more disease epidemics (59%), severe heat
waves (54%), severe cyclones (52%), and droughts and water shortages (50%). More than four
in ten think global warming will cause many more famines and food shortages (49%) and severe
floods (44%).
Support for Climate and Energy Policies
● Most people in India (55%) say the country should reduce its emissions immediately without
waiting for other countries to act (+19 since 2011).
● 64% say the government of India should be doing more to address global warming.
● Large majorities favor specific policies:
○ A national program to teach all Indians about global warming (83%, +13 since 2011).
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 4
○ A national program to train people for new jobs in the renewable energy industry (83%;
not asked previously).
○ Encouraging local communities to build check dams to increase local water supplies
(82%, +14).
○ Preserving or expanding forested areas, even if this means less land for agriculture or
housing (69%, +12).
○ Requiring new buildings to waste less water and energy, even if this increases their cost
(69%, +12).
○ Requiring that new automobiles be more fuel efficient, even if this increases the cost of
cars and bus fare (66%, +11).
● 73% favor India’s participation in the Paris Climate Agreement.
● 62% think that overall, taking action to reduce global warming will either improve economic
growth and provide new jobs (45%) or have no effect on economic growth or jobs (17%). Only
19% think it will reduce economic growth and cost jobs.
● 59% think India should increase its use of renewable sources of energy, while only 13% think
India should increase its use of fossil fuels.
● 6% are already participating in and 57% are “definitely” willing to join a citizen’s campaign to
convince leaders in India to take action on global warming.
Local Weather Events: Observations, Vulnerabilities, and Resilience
● 76% of people in India have noticed changes in the average annual amount of rainfall in their
local area over the last 10 years.
● 41% say the monsoon has become more predictable in their local area (+17 since 2011).
● 56% say that hot days have become more frequent in their local area.
● 74% say it would take their household several months or more to recover from a severe drought,
and 63% say it would take several months or more to recover from a severe flood. This includes
many who say it would take them several years to recover from a severe drought (28%) or a
severe flood (26%).
● More than half of people in India say their income does not cover their needs and they either
have “some difficulties” (26%) or “great difficulties” (27%) as a result.
● About two in three people in India (65%) say they have few or no friends or relatives they could
count on for help if they were in trouble.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 5
Introduction
Home to more than 1.3 billion people, India accounts for nearly 18% of the global population, but uses only 6%
of the world’s primary energy consumption (IEA, 2021). For example, the per capita energy consumption in
India is 0.6 tonnes of oil equivalent, which is only one-third of the global average (IEA, 2021). However, because
of its large population, India was the third largest national emitter in 2020 (behind China and the United States),
emitting 2.4 gigatons of carbon dioxide (Crippa et al, 2021).
India is among the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Climate change has already begun
to alter growing seasons in India (Mani et al., 2018), and with almost 50% of Indians working in agriculture and
other climate sensitive sectors (Chand & Singh, 2022), the damage to productivity and health is significant (Mani
et al., 2018). From 1901–2018, India’s average temperature rose 0.7°C. During the summer monsoon season,
India is experiencing both more frequent dry spells and more intense wet spells (Krishnan et al., 2020). Across all
of Asia, including India, climate change will cause water shortages, which could affect more than a billion people
by the 2050s (Krishnan et al., 2020).
India’s population is also vulnerable to sea level rise, with up to 310 million people inhabiting low elevation
coastal zones. About 30% of India’s population, approximately 363 million people, are poor, and 1.77 million
people are homeless (Government of India, 2016). Many Indians live in “hotspots,” where changes in climate
negatively affect living standards. These hotspots are growing as climate change worsens, and it is projected that
by 2050, 148.3 million people in India will be living in severe hotspots (Mani et al., 2018). Additionally, more
than 80 percent of India's population lives in districts highly vulnerable to extreme weather events (Mohanty &
Wadhawan, 2021).
India has long been a key player in international climate negotiations and has begun implementing a diverse
portfolio of policies nationally and within individual states to improve energy efficiency, develop clean energy
sources, and prepare for the impacts of a changing climate. About 33 States and Union Territories have also
announced state-level action plans to address climate change.
In 2015, India submitted its first climate action plan with the aim of reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP
by 33-35% by 2030, generating 40% of its power from renewable energy sources, and increasing forest cover.
The updated National Action Plan on Climate Change commits to reducing emissions intensity by 45% by 2030,
compared to 2005, and to achieve 50% of cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based
energy resources by 2030 (PIB, 2022, Government of India, 2022). India has increased its solar capacity rapidly,
ranking fifth for installed solar capacity in the 2020 Human Development Report, and plans to expand to 450
GW renewable energy capacity by 2030 (IEA, 2021). India has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
However, to meet its 2070 emissions target, India will need an estimated $10.1 trillion in investments (ASPI,
2022). In the face of rapid urbanization and economic growth, India’s actions to deal with energy and climate
challenges will be key to a global clean energy transition. Even if India implements its nationally determined
commitments under the Paris Agreement, it is expected to see a further 50% rise in its carbon dioxide emissions
by 2040 (IEA, 2021). The majority of India’s emissions are to come from infrastructure, buildings, and vehicles
that do not currently exist, presenting a huge opportunity for change in the trajectory of emissions.
To support economic development and build low-carbon infrastructure, India needs to invest 1.5 times or more
than advanced economies as a share of GDP today (MGI, 2022). Without international support, financing this
additional investment would likely result in a 2% decline in total household consumption (ASPI, 2022). In India,
about 5 million jobs in the fossil-fuel sector would be lost. While 12 million new jobs would be created in the
renewable energy industry, upskilling India’s future workforce remains a challenge. Initiatives like “Skill India”
are expected to provide training in sectors including sustainable development for 400 million people by 2022
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 6
(Government of India, 2016). India has also set aside $55.6 million for the National Adaptation Fund to support
the adaptation of climate-sensitive sectors like forestry (Government of India, 2016).
An effective national strategy, however, must take into account the climate change and energy-related beliefs,
attitudes, policy preferences, and behaviors of the Indian people, who will play a vital role in the success or failure
of this strategy through their decisions and behavior as citizens, consumers, and communities. Building public
acceptance, support, and demand for new policies to both limit the severity of global warming and prepare for the
impacts of a changing climate will require education and communication strategies based on a clear understanding
of what Indians already know, believe, and support, as well as what they currently misunderstand, disbelieve, or
oppose.
In an effort to help establish a baseline understanding of public responses to these issues in India, the Yale
Program on Climate Change Communication first conducted a national survey in 2011 to investigate the state of
public climate change awareness, beliefs, attitudes, policy support, and behaviors, as well as public observations of
changes in local weather and climate patterns and self-reported vulnerability to extreme weather events. This new
report provides the results from a second nationally representative survey conducted in 2021-2022 on the same
themes, including many of the same questions, enabling us to track changes in public responses in India over
time.
Climate change and 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.
This report provides the topline survey results. A second report is forthcoming which will segment the survey
respondents into distinct audiences that would benefit from tailored climate change education and
communication.
References
Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI). (2022). Getting India to Net Zero (Getting Asia to Net Zero). Asia Society
Policy Institute. https://asiasociety.org/sites/default/files/2022-
08/ASPI_Getting%20India%20to%20Net%20Zero.pdf
Chand, R., & Singh, J. (2022). Workforce Changes and Employment: Some Findings from PLFS Data Series [NITI
Aayog Discussion Paper]. NITI Aayog, Government of India.
https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2022-04/Discussion_Paper_on_Workforce_05042022.pdf
Crippa, M., Guizzardi, D., Muntean, M., Schaaf, E., Monforti-Ferrario, F., Banja, M., Olivier, J. G. J., Vignati, E.,
Solazzo, E., & Grassi, G. (2021). GHG emissions of all world countries: 2021 report. Publications Office of
the European Union. https://doi.org/10.2760/173513
Government of India. (2016). India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution: Working Toward Climate Justice
(UNFCCC Nationally Determined Contributions). United Nations.
https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/NDC/2022-06/INDIA%20INDC%20TO%20UNFCCC.pdf
Government of India. (2022). India’s Updated First Nationally Determined Contribution Under Paris Agreement
(2021-2030) (UNFCCC Nationally Determined Contributions). United Nations.
https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/NDC/2022-
08/India%20Updated%20First%20Nationally%20Determined%20Contrib.pdf
International Energy Agency. (2021). India Energy Outlook 2021 [World Energy Outlook Special Report].
OECD. https://doi.org/10.1787/ec2fd78d-en
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 7
Krishnan, R., Sanjay, J., Gnanaseelan, C., Mujumdar, M., Kulkarni, A., & Chakraborty, S. (Eds.). (2020).
Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region: A Report of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES),
Government of India. Springer Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4327-2
Mani, M., Bandyopadhyay, S., Chonabayashi, S., Markandya, A., & Mosier, T. (2018). South Asia’s Hotspots: The
Impact of Temperature and Precipitation Changes on Living Standards. International Bank for Reconstruction
and Development / The World Bank. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1155-5
McKinsey Global Institute (MGI). (2022). The net-zero transition: What it would cost, what it could bring.
McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/sustainability/our-insights/the-net-
zero-transition-what-it-would-cost-what-it-could-bring
Mohanty, A., & Wadhawan, S. (2021). Mapping India’s Climate Vulnerability—A District Level Assessment. Council
on Energy, Environment and Water. https://www.ceew.in/sites/default/files/ceew-study-on-climate-
change-vulnerability-index-and-district-level-risk-assessment.pdf
PIB. (2022). Cabinet approves India’s Updated Nationally Determined Contribution to be communicated to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Press Information Bureau India.
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1847812
UNDP. (2020). The next frontier: Human development and the Anthropocene (Human Development Report 2020).
United Nations Development Programme.
https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents//hdr2020pdf.pdf
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 8
1. Global Warming Awareness and Beliefs
1.1 Most people in India know just a little about global warming or have never heard of it.
Individuals, policymakers, and societies must be aware of and have at least a basic understanding of a threat to
make informed decisions about how to respond to it. Only 9% of people in India say they know “a lot” about
global warming, while 32% say they know “something” about it. By contrast, 20% say they know “just a little”
about global warming, and 35% say they have “never heard of it.”
Compared to our survey in 2011, the percentage of people in India who say they know “a lot” about global
warming has remained about the same. The percentage of people in India who have never heard of global
warming is 10 percentage points higher, while the percentage who say they “don’t know” or did not provide a
response is 13 percentage points lower.
It is important to note, however, that lack of awareness of the issue does not mean that individuals have not
observed changes in local weather and climate patterns, as evidenced in the Observations, Vulnerabilities, and
Resilience to Local Weather Events section later in this report. This suggests that many people in India may have
observed changes in their local climate and weather patterns without understanding that these changes are related
to the broader issue of global climate change.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 9
1.2 A large majority of people in India think global warming is happening.
After being asked about their level of knowledge about global warming, respondents were given a short definition
of it: “Global warming refers to the idea that the world’s average temperature has been increasing over the past
150 years, may be increasing more in the future, and that the world’s climate and weather patterns may change as
a result.” They were then asked, “What do you think? Do you think that global warming is happening?”
After reading the short description, a large majority of people in India (84%) said they think global warming is
happening. By comparison, only 6% of people in India said they think global warming is not happening, and 10%
either said they “don’t know” or did not provide a response.
The percentage of people who think global warming is happening is 15 percentage points higher than in 2011,
while the percentage who say it is not happening is four percentage points lower, and the percentage who say they
“don’t know” or did not provide a response is 11 percentage points lower.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 10
1.3 A majority of people in India think global warming is primarily human-caused.
A majority of people in India say that if global warming is happening, it is caused mostly by human activities
(57%), while 31% say it is caused mostly by natural changes in the environment.
The percentage of people in India who think global warming is caused mostly by human activities is four
percentage points higher than in 2011.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 11
1.4 A large majority of people in India say they have personally experienced the effects of global warming.
About three in four people in India (74%) either “strongly agree” (54%) or “somewhat agree” (20%) that they
have personally experienced the effects of global warming. By contrast, only 14% either “strongly disagree”
(10%) or “somewhat disagree” (4%) that they have personally experienced the effects of global warming.
The total percentage of people in India who either “strongly” or “somewhat” agree that they have personally
experienced global warming is 24 percentage points higher than in 2011, and the percentage who “strongly
agree” is three times higher (+36 percentage points). By contrast, the total percentage who “strongly” or
“somewhat” disagree is 17 percentage points lower than in 2011.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 12
2. Global Warming Risk Perceptions
2.1 Most people in India are worried about global warming.
A large majority of respondents (81%) say they are either “very worried” (50%) or “somewhat worried” (31%)
about global warming. By contrast, a total of only 12% say they are either “not very worried” (5%) or “not at all
worried” (7%) about it, and 7% either say they don’t know or did not provide a response.
The percentage of people in India who say they are either “very” or “somewhat” worried about global warming is
21 percentage points higher than in 2011, and among those, the percentage who say they are “very worried” is
30 percentage points higher than in 2011.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 13
2.2 Large majorities of people in India say global warming will cause harm.
Large majorities of people in India say global warming will cause either a “great deal'' or a “moderate amount” of
harm to people and other species. That includes plant and animal species (80%), people in India (77%), future
generations of people (77%), people in their own community (72%), and themselves and their own family
(69%).
The percentage of people in India who say global warming will cause harm to each of these groups is higher than
in 2011: plant and animal species (+15 percentage points), people in India (+13), future generations of people
(+11), people in their own community (+12), and themselves and their own family (+13).
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 14
2.3 About half of people in India think Indians are already being harmed by global warming.
About half of people in India think Indians are already being harmed by global warming (49%) – a much higher
percentage than in 2011 (+29 percentage points). Fewer think people in India will be harmed within 10 years
(18%), 25 years (10%), 50 years (4%), or 100 years (1%), and only 2% think global warming will never harm
people in India, while 17% say they don’t know or did not provide a response.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 15
2.4 People in India think global warming will have dangerous impacts.
Many people in India think global warming will have a variety of dangerous impacts. Half or more think global
warming will cause “many more” disease epidemics (59%), extinctions of plant and animal species (54%), severe
heat waves (54%), severe cyclones (52%), and droughts and water shortages (50%). More than four in ten
respondents think global warming will cause many more famines and food shortages (49%) and severe floods
(44%).
The percentage of people in India who think global warming will have dangerous impacts is higher than in 2011:
disease epidemics (+14 percentage points), extinctions of plant and animal species (+6), severe heat waves (+9),
severe cyclones (+20), droughts and water shortages (+5), famines and food shortages (+2), and severe floods
(+10).
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 16
2.5 A large majority of people in India say global warming is personally important to them.
More than eight in 10 people in India (84%) say global warming is either “extremely important” (39%), “very
important” (29%), or “somewhat important” (16%) to them personally. Very few say it is either “not very
important” (2%) or “not at all important” (3%), while 11% say they don’t know or did not provide a response.
The total percentage of people in India who say global warming is either “extremely,” “very,” or “somewhat”
important to them is 21 percentage points higher than in 2011, while the proportion who say it is either “not
very” or “not at all” important is 20 percentage points lower.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 17
3. Support for Climate and Energy Policies
3.1 Most people in India say the country should reduce its greenhouse gas emissions without waiting for other
countries to act.
More than half of people in India (55%) say India should reduce its own emissions of the gases that cause global
warming immediately without waiting for other countries. In contrast, only 6% say India should reduce its own
emissions only if rich countries go first, and 17% say India should reduce its own emissions only if all the other
countries of the world reduce their emissions at the same time. Additionally, 8% say India should not reduce its
emissions under any circumstances, while 15% say they don’t know or did not provide a response.
The percentage of people in India who say India should reduce its emissions immediately is 19 percentage points
higher than in 2011, while the percentage who say India should reduce its own emissions only if rich countries go
first (-11 percentage points) and the percentage who say India should not reduce its emissions under any
circumstances (-5) are both lower than in 2011.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 18
3.2 Most people in India favor policies to address environmental problems.
Large majorities of people in India either “strongly” or “somewhat” favor policies to address environmental
problems in India, including the following:
● A national program to teach all Indians about global warming (83%, +13 percentage points since 2011).
● A national program to train people for new jobs in the renewable energy industry (83%; not asked
previously).
● Encouraging local communities to build check dams to increase local water supplies (82%, +14).
● Preserving or expanding forested areas, even if this means less land for agriculture or housing (69%,
+12).
● Requiring new buildings to waste less water and energy, even if this increases their cost (69%, +12).
● Requiring that new automobiles be more fuel efficient, even if this increases the cost of cars and bus fare
(66%, +11).
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 19
3.3 A majority of people in India say the government should be doing more to address global warming.
Sixty-four percent of people in India say the government of India should be doing either “much more” (47%) or
“more” (17%) to address global warming. By contrast, only 9% say the government is currently doing the right
amount to address global warming, and 13% say the government should be doing either “less” (7%) or “much
less” (6%) to address the issue.
The percentage of people in India who say the government of India should be doing “much more” to address
global warming is 23 percentage points higher than in 2011.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 20
3.4 A large majority of people in India favor the country’s participation in the Paris Climate Agreement.
In December 2015, officials from 197 countries (nearly every country in the world) met in Paris at the United
Nations Climate Change Conference and negotiated a global agreement to limit global warming. On Earth Day,
April 22, 2016, India and 174 other countries signed the agreement, with all of the other countries signing soon
afterwards.
A large majority of people in India (73%) favor India’s participation in the Paris Climate Agreement, including
about six in ten (59%) who say they “strongly favor” it.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 21
3.5 Few people in India think taking action to limit global warming will reduce economic growth.
More than twice as many people in India think taking action to reduce global warming will improve economic
growth and provide new jobs (45%) than think it will reduce economic growth and cost jobs (19%).
Additionally, about one in five (17%) think taking action on global warming will have no effect on economic
growth or jobs.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 22
3.6 Most people in India say the country should increase its use of renewable energy sources and decrease its
use of fossil fuels.
A majority of people in India (59%) say that in the future India should use either “much more” (42%) or “more”
(16%) renewable sources of energy, like solar panels and wind turbines, than it does today. Relatively few
respondents (12%) say India should use either “much less” (3%) or “less” (9%) renewable energy, and 13% say
India should use the same amount of renewable energy as it does today.
Most respondents (54%) also say India should use “much less” (23%) or “less” (31%) fossil fuels, like coal, oil,
and gas, than it does today. Few respondents (13%) say India should use “much more” (8%) or “more” (5%)
fossil fuels, and 18% say India should use the same amount of fossil fuels as it does today.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 23
4. Global Warming in the Media
4.1 About half of people in India say they hear about global warming in the media at least once a month.
About half of people in India (52%) say they hear about global warming in the media once a month or more
often, including 35% who say they hear about it at least once a week. In contrast, one in three (33%) say they
hear about global warming in the media only several times a year or less often, including 11% who say they never
hear about global warming in the media.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 24
5. Global Warming Activism
5.1 Most people in India are willing to join a citizens’ campaign to convince leaders in India to take action on
global warming.
A large majority of people in India (76%) say they are either “already participating in” (6%) or are “definitely”
(57%) or “probably” (14%) willing to join a campaign to convince elected officials to take action to reduce global
warming. In contrast, few people in India (8%) say they either “probably” (3%) or “definitely” (5%) would not
join such a campaign.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 25
6. Local Weather Events: Observations, Vulnerabilities, and Resilience
6.1 About three in four people in India have noticed changes in rainfall in their area in the last 10 years.
India is geographically diverse, and different parts of the country experience different patterns of heat, rainfall,
and extreme weather. A large majority of people in India say they have observed changes in local climate and
weather patterns in their own area.1
Nationally, more than four in ten people in India (46%) say the average amount of rainfall in their local area has
increased over the past 10 years, while 30% say it has decreased, and 22% say it has stayed about the same.
Compared to 2011, a higher percentage of people in India now say the average amount of rainfall in their local
area has increased over the past 10 years (+12 percentage points), while a smaller percentage say it has decreased
(-16).
1 A future analysis will examine the geographic variation in responses to these questions.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 26
6.2 About one in four people in India say the monsoon in their local area has become less predictable compared
to the past.
More than half of people in India say they have observed changes in the predictability of the monsoon in their
local area. This includes about four in ten (41%) who say the monsoon has become more predictable compared to
the past and 27% who say it has become less predictable. About one in four (26%) say it has not changed.
Compared to 2011, a higher percentage of people in India now say the monsoon has become more predictable in
their area (+17 percentage points), while a smaller percentage say it has become less predictable (-11), and about
the same percentage say it has not changed.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 27
6.3 Most people in India say hot days have become more frequent in their local area.
A majority of people in India (56%) say hot days have become more frequent in their local area, while 18% say
they have become less frequent, and 23% say there has been no change.
Fewer (28%) say that droughts have become more frequent, while 30% say droughts have become less frequent,
and 32% say they have not changed. Similarly, one in four say that severe storms and floods (both 25%) have
become more frequent, while more say they have become less frequent (severe storms, 31%; floods, 28%) or have
not changed (severe storms, 34%; floods, 30%).
Compared to 2011, a higher percentage of people in India now say most of these events have become more
frequent in their local area (floods, +11 percentage points; droughts, +8; severe storms, +4).
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 28
6.4 A majority of people in India say it would take them several months or more to recover from a severe
drought or flood.
About three in four people in India (74%) say it would take their household several months or more to recover
from a severe drought, and more than six in ten (63%) say it would take several months or more to recover from a
severe flood. This includes about one in four respondents who say it would take them several years to recover from
a severe drought (28%) or a severe flood (26%).
Compared to 2011, a higher percentage of people in India say it would take their household several months or
more to recover from a severe drought (+10 percentage points), while the percentage who say it would take that
long to recover from a severe flood is about the same.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 29
6.5 More than half of people in India say their income does not cover their needs and they face difficulties.
Only 16% of people in India say their household income covers their needs and they are able to save money, and
21% say their income covers their needs, but by just enough. More than half of people in India say their income
does not cover their needs and that they either have “some difficulties” (26%) or “great difficulties” (27%).
The percentage of people in India who say their household is financially stable is lower than in 2011: a lower
percentage say their income covers needs and are able to save money (-14 percentage points); or their income
covers needs, but by just enough (-16). In contrast, the percentage who say they face financial hardship is higher
than in 2011: a higher percentage say their income does not cover needs and they have some difficulties (+10
percentage points); or their income does not cover needs and they have great difficulties (+17). It is possible these
results partly reflect the national context during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 30
6.6 About two in three people in India say they have few or no friends or relatives they could count on for help
if they were in trouble.
When asked how many relatives and friends they could count on if they were in trouble and needed help, about
two-thirds of people in India say either “none” (32%) or “1 to 5” (33%). Only about one in four say they have
either “6 to 10” (10%) or more than 10 (13%) friends or relatives they could count on to help them.
The percentage of respondents who say that they do not have any friends or relatives they could count on to help
if they were in trouble is higher by a small margin than in 2011 (+4 percentage points), while the other responses
have not changed significantly. It is possible these results partly reflect the national context during the COVID-19
pandemic.
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022 31
Appendix I: Methods
This report is based on findings from a nationally representative survey of adults (18+) in India
conducted by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and CVoter, an international survey
company headquartered in Delhi, India. A nationally representative sample of respondents was
contacted by mobile telephone using predictive dialing technology and computer-assisted telephone
interviewing (CATI). The survey was translated into 12 languages (Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Marathi,
Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Odiya, Bangla, Asamiya, and English) and respondents received
the survey in one of those languages based on their geographic location in India. National Census-based
demographic parameters were used to create sampling targets for gender, education, and socioeconomic
status. The results were also weighted after completion of the data collection period to adjust the final
sample to match national demographic parameters on gender, age, education, income, religion, and
urbanicity. Interview dates: October 21, 2021 – January 9, 2022. Interviews: 4,619 adults (18+).
Average margin of error: +/- 1.4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
In the data tables, bases specified are unweighted while percentages are weighted to match national
population parameters. For tabulation purposes, percentage points are rounded to the nearest whole
number. As a result, percentages in a given chart may total slightly higher or lower than 100%. Summed
response categories (e.g., “strongly agree” + “somewhat agree”) are rounded after sums are calculated.
For example, in some cases, the sum of 25% + 25% might be reported as 51% (e.g., 25.3% + 25.3% =
50.6%, which, after rounding, would be reported as 25% + 25% = 51%). The results from 2011 that
have been used for comparisons over time have been recalculated using updated analytic and rounding
rules, and thus may differ slightly from the results that were reported at that time.
The survey instrument was designed by Anthony Leiserowitz, Seth Rosenthal, Jennifer Carman, Jennifer
Marlon, and Arunima Sircar of Yale University, Jagadish Thaker of the University of Auckland, and
Yashwant Deshmukh and Guara Shukla of CVoter. All graphics (charts and tables) in the report were
created by Liz Neyens of Yale University.
Demographics: Table 1
Age groups n (unweighted) % (weighted)
18-24 725 17
25-34 1311 30
35-44 1211 21
45-54 785 14
55-64 415 13
65+ 172 5
Gender n (unweighted) % (weighted)
Male 2452 52
Female 2160 48
Other 7 0
Area n (unweighted) % (weighted)
Urba n 1521 30
Semi-Urban 633 16
Rural 2465 54
State n (unweighted) % (weighted)
Andhra Pradesh 159 4
Assam 155 2
Bihar 390 8
Chattisgarh 101 2
Delhi 67 1
Goa 4 0
Gujarat 145 5
Haryana 152 2
Himachal Pradesh 96 1
Jammu & Kashmir 49 1
Jharkhand 123 2
Karna taka 265 5
Ker ala 136 3
Madhya Pradesh 301 6
Maharashtra 307 10
Northeast* 34 1
Orissa 179 4
Punjab 124 2
Rajasthan 259 5
Tamil Nadu 279 7
Telang ana 107 3
Union Territories* 8 0
Uttar Pradesh 700 16
Uttarakhand 56 1
West Bengal 423 8
Age of respondent
Gende r of responde nt
Respondent's area of residence
Respondent's state of residence
* Northeast includes respondents in Sikkim, Meghalaya,
Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram.
Union Territories includes respondents in Chandigarh, Dadra &
Nagar Haveli, Kargil, and Pondicherry.
Appendix II : Demographic Tables
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022
32
Demographics: Table 2
Language n (unweighted) % (weighted)
Asamia 155 2
Bangla 423 8
Eng lish 38 1
Gujarati 145 5
Hindi 2302 46
Kanna da 265 5
Malayalam 136 3
Marathi 307 10
Odiya 179 4
Punjabi 124 2
Tamil 279 7
Telugu 266 8
Level of education n (unweighted) % (weighted)
Not literate 124 3
Literate without formal schooling 87 2
Literate but below primary 84 2
Primary 983 22
Middle 864 20
Secondary 801 19
Higher Secondary 909 16
Diploma/certificate course 221 4
Graduation 436 10
Post-grad & above 109 3
Don't know 1 0
Monthly household income n (unweighted) % (weighted)
Less than Rs 3000 588 12
Rs 3000-6000 893 17
Rs 6000-10,000 974 17
Rs 10,000-20,000 918 20
Rs 20,000-50,000 696 15
Rs 50,000-1,00,000 224 10
More than Rs 1,00,000 117 5
Can' t Say 209 4
Home ownership status n (unweighted) % (weighted)
Own 3558 77
Rent 542 12
Don't know 11 0
No response 508 10
Language in which survey was conducted
Up to what level have you studied?
What is your monthly family income?
Do you own or rent your home
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022
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Demographics: Table 3
Drinking water source n (unweighted) % (weighted)
Tap / Pipe d into house 1552 36
Tap / Pipe d into ya rd/plot 177 4
Public tap / Standpipe (handpump) 1041 21
Tube well / B orehole 677 15
Protected well 247 5
Unprotected well 53 1
Protected spring 17 0
Unprotected spring 4 0
Rainwater 7 0
Tanker truck 36 1
Cart with small tank 13 0
Surface water (river / dam / lake / pond /
stream / canal / irrigation channe l)
65 1
Bottled water / Water bag/sachet 74 2
Community RO plant 46 1
Others 150 3
Don't know 1 0
No response 459 9
Electricity n (unweighted) % (weighted)
Yes 4048 88
No 102 2
No response 469 9
Air conditioner n (unweighted) % (weighted)
Yes 504 13
No 3532 75
Don't know 1 0
No response 480 10
Not applicable (No electricity) 102 2
Internet access n (unweighted) % (weighted)
Yes 2860 64
No 1275 27
Don't know 7 0
No response 477 10
Party n (unweighted) % (weighted)
INC/UPA 489 11
BJP/NDA 2194 45
Others 1550 35
No response 386 9
Which party did you vote for in 2019 Lok Sabha Elections?
Does your household have an air conditioner?
Does your household have internet access (broadband/cable or mobile phone)?
What is the main source of drinking water for members of your household?
Does your household have electricity?
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022
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Demographics: Table 4
Cooking fuel n (unweighted) % (weighted)
Wood 1229 25
Straw / grass 123 3
Dung 162 3
Ele ctri city 6 0
Propane or natural gas 2472 56
Coal 17 0
Oil 4 0
Solar 3 0
Charcoal 8 0
Ker osen e / paraffi n 3 0
Other 119 3
No response 470 9
Not applicable 3 0
House type n (unweighted) % (weighted)
Hut/jhuggi jhopri (walls are
plastic/polythene/mud
/grass/leaves/stones/unburnt brick etc.)
247 6
Kutch a hou se (wa lls ar e wood/b amb oo/mud a nd
roof is thatched/wooden/tin/asbestos sheets etc.)
900 19
Kutch a-p ucca (w all s a re pucca ma teri als such as
burnt brick but roof is not concrete/cemented)
782 16
Mixed houses (some rooms are pucca and other
rooms are kutcha-pucca or kutcha)
335 7
Pucca independent house (walls and roof are both
made up of pucca materials and built on separate
plot)
1721 39
Flat (more than one house shares the same plot
and the building is at least double storied)
166 4
No response 468 9
Religion n (unweighted) % (weighted)
Hindu 3973 80
Muslim 388 14
Jain 16 0
Animism 5 0
Christian 101 2
Sikh 103 2
Buddhist/Neo Buddhist 15 1
No religion 3 0
Other 8 0
Don't know 7 0
Caste group n (unweighted) % (weighted)
Scheduled Tribe 352 7
Scheduled Caste 626 12
Other Backward Classe s 1639 35
Uppe r Caste /Forward Caste 1816 39
Can' t Say 47 1
No response 139 5
What is your religion?
What is your caste group?
What type of fuel does your household mainly use for cooking?
What type of a house do you live in?
Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2022
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