Yale climate opinion maps for India: New interactive tool maps public opinion at state, local levels
Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, in collaboration with C-Voter, Tuesday released the Yale Climate Opinion Maps for India. This new online interactive tool provides the first-ever estimates of public responses to climate change in 34 of India’s 36 states and union territories, and in 604 districts, depicting the variation in global warming knowledge, beliefs, risk perceptions, and policy preferences at state and local levels across the country.
Prior studies of public responses to climate change in India have often provided results only at the national level. The recent national survey in India found that large majorities in India are worried about climate-related hazards, but until now we had little information about the diversity of climate opinions within the country.
While national data show that 41% of people in India say they know a lot or something about global warming, there is substantial geographic variation within the country. In Gujarat, 52% of Indians know a lot or something about the issue, whereas in Maharashtra, only 33% report this level of knowledge. More Indians living in state capital cities say they know a lot or something about global warming compared to other districts. 74% think global warming will cause more severe heat waves and 85% are worried about global warming.
“In a large and linguistically diverse country such as India, state governments and district administrators are more directly connected to the people and play a crucial role in achieving India’s development and
