Concern for Climate Change Cools off Globally but not in India: Nielsen Global Survey
Indians believe that the main responsibility to address Global Warming issues rests with the Government
Tweet-- Concern for climate change has declined globally in the past two years with many countries recording a double digit fall, according to a new research released today by The Nielsen Company and the Oxford University Institute of Climate Change. However, in the latest round of the survey, conducted in October 2009, concern for climate change in India has increased by one percent in the last two years. 54 percent Indian consumers said they were "very concerned" about climate change.
Globally 37 percent consumers said they were very concerned about climate change, this is lower than consumer concerns over climate change in 2007 (41%). The highest level of concern was expressed in Latin America (57%) and Asia Pacific (42%). However, North America lagged behind global regions with only a quarter of respondents saying they were "very concerned" about climate change.
35 out of the 54 countries surveyed recorded a decline in their concern for climate change, led by Poland (23%) and Canada (22%). Climate Change concern also fell by eighteen percent in Portugal and seventeen percent in Taiwan, Spain and Sweden.
"The global recession and economic woes temporarily knocked the climate change issue off the top line agenda, but as the recession is now beginning to recede, we expect the Copenhagen Summit may push this important issue to the forefront again," said Jonathan Banks, Business Insights Director Europe, The Nielsen Company. Nielsen/Oxford University research shows that concern and awareness for climate change and the environment peaked in 2007 at the time of the Live Earth concerts and the launch of Al Gore's acclaimed documentary 'An Inconvenient Truth'.
The nations most concerned about climate change are Philippines (78%), Indonesia (66%), Thailand and Mexico (62%). The Philippines posted the highest increase in climate change concern in the past two years, up fourteen percent, followed by Vietnam (+9%).
"These are countries which have experienced direct effects of climate change through freak weather conditions and natural disasters," said Banks. Typhoon Ketsana devastated both the Philippines and Vietnam in September, while Indonesia has been struck by two earthquakes and tsunami warnings this year.
Concern for climate change in Indonesia and Brazil, the two most concerned countries in 2007, has decreased by ten and eighteen percent respectively in the most recent survey.
Indians are most concerned about air pollution (62%). Water pollution and concerns over water shortages come next with 61%. With 54 percent global warming is third on the list of concerns for Indians. Globally also air and water pollution followed by climate change are the top three environmental concerns for people. "It's not surprising that water and air pollution top consumers' environmental concerns as these are measurable and visible to the population compared with the concept of climate change, which unfortunately many people only take seriously when human lives are endangered through freak weather patterns," said Banks.
Government vs. Individuals: Divided Views on Solutions
In line with global sentiments, in India too the majority of consumers still believe that the main responsibility for solving climate change should lie with the government. In October 2009, 37 percent Indians said that governments should restrict companies' emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants, 36 percent consumer worldwide feel the same. 28 percent Indians feel that there should be major government-led initiatives for research into scientific and technological solutions like low-emissions cars, houses and renewable energy. Nearly three in ten Indians also said that there should be a change to more energy efficient light bulbs, fixtures and electrical appliances to combat climate change. More than a quarter of Indian consumers believe in recycling consumer waste and saving electricity to address issues of climate change and global warming. Indians also believe that the government should invest in improving public transport systems (23%) and that there should be government incentives (tax breaks or subsidies - 22%) to individuals for good, less or non-polluting behavior.
"Regional differences prevail with respect to how consumers feel about the capability of their own governments to handle these issues," observed Banks. Europeans and Latin Americans feel most favorable about major government-led research into climate change solutions, while in Asia Pacific, consumers prefer that governments restrict companies' emissions of CO2 and other pollutants. Consumers in Middle East/Africa are most in favour of major government investment into improving public transport systems. North Americans, however, are the least in favour of government intervention or action towards climate change and top regional rankings for personal actions to combat climate change such as recycling waste, decreasing personal energy usage and switching to more efficient light bulbs, fixtures and electrical appliances.
Who Does the Public Trust on the Issues?
Climate scientists remain the most trusted source of information about climate change with two in five Indians believing climate scientists more than any other source. Globally also climate scientists are the most trusted source of information about climate change (58%). With 34 percent votes, journalists/ media are the next most trusted source of information about global warming/ climate change for Indians.
"Trust in scientists has been reported consistently and frequently across these 54 responding nations of the world. This is an important finding as the intensely policy-relevant work of climate scientists - both natural and social - informs negotiations in Copenhagen at the UN Conference of Parties meeting," said Max Boykoff, Assistant Professor of Environmental studies, University of Colorado-Boulder, USA.
The Nielsen/Oxford University Environment and Climate Change Barometer is an annual survey which measures consumer attitudes towards the environment and climate change, trust of information sources and climate change solutions among 27,548 online consumers in 54 countries.
Notes to Editor
About The Nielsen Company
The Nielsen Company is a global information and media company with leading market positions in marketing and consumer information, television and other media measurement, online intelligence, mobile measurement, trade shows and business publications (Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Adweek). The privately held company is active in more than 100 countries, with headquarters in New York, USA. For more information, please visit, www.nielsen.com