Indians ready to accept renewable energy sources, worried about global warming

A survey carried out by the Yale Programme on Climate Change Communication and C-Voter International has revealed that a vast majority of Indians are extremely concerned about global warming, and strongly support the government's climate action plans and the transition to renewable energy sources.

The study titled “Climate Change in the Indian Mind, 2023” showed that only 10% of respondents claimed to have an in-depth understanding of global warming, but after receiving a brief explanation, 78% of them stated they believed it was real.

Remarkably, 59% of Indians are "very worried," and 91% of them express concern about global warming. However, only 33% report hearing about the issue in the media once a week, implying a possible communication gap.

Pointing the urgency for informed public discourse, Yale scholar Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz said, “India is already experiencing climate impacts, from record heatwaves to severe floods.”

As per the survey results, 86% of participants support the center's ambitious “Net Zero” objective to reduce carbon emissions by 2070. There is a strong majority for the phase-out of coal, with 84% of respondents backing the prohibition of new coal power plants and a shift to renewable energy sources.

Furthermore, to slow down global warming, 75% of respondents said they would be willing to pay extra for electric cars and energy-efficient equipment.

At COP26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) campaign, and a significant majority of people are keen to adopt and encourage environmentally friendly practices. In response, a significant majority (79%) stated that they would be willing to change their daily routines, encourage friends and family to adopt eco-friendly practices (78%), and publicly demonstrate eco-friendly behavior to influence others (71%).

"Indians strongly support the clean energy transition, which they see as beneficial for the economy and their health. Importantly, majorities support the 2070 'Net Zero' goal to reduce carbon pollution to nearly zero and are personally willing to commit to actions to achieve it,” said Dr. Jagadish Thaker who is a Senior Lecturer in Communication, University of Queensland.

Dr. Thaker stated, "This collective willingness to embrace sustainable lifestyles and advocate for renewable energy sources demonstrates India's commitment to a greener future."