Global Warming Risk Perceptions in India

Abstract

Few studies have focused on global warming risk perceptions among people in poor and developing countries, who are disproportionately impacted by climate change. This analysis conducts a comprehensive assessment of global warming risk perceptions in India using a national sample survey. Consistent with cultural theory, egalitarianism was positively associated with global warming risk perceptions. In addition, perceived vulnerability and resilience to extreme weather events were also two of the strongest factors associated with global warming risk perceptions. While worry was positively associated with risk perceptions, it accounted for only a small proportion of the variance, unlike studies in developed countries. Finally, the study also collected global warming affective images. The most common responses were "don't know" or "can't say" (25%), followed by "pollution" (21%), "heat" (20%), and "nature" (16%). The study finds that the predictors of global warming risk perceptions among the Indian public are both similar and different than those in developed countries, which has important implications for climate change communication in India.

A Research Agenda for Affective Dimensions in Climate Change Risk Perception and Risk Communication

“…That most of the studies we reviewed focus on the Global North is problematic in generating theory on affect and climate risk perception and communication. For example, Thaker et al (2020) found that existing frameworks developed in the Global North could not adequately explain affective responses in India. This is particularly important, as people in the Global South are disproportionately experiencing the impacts of climate change.…”

“…Studies of affective dimensions in risk communication relied on affective imagery to investigate positive and negative emotions triggered by images, sounds, ideas, and stories which evoke judgment of a perceived risk (Lorenzoni et al, 2006;Smith and Leiserowitz, 2012;Thaker et al, 2020). It is notable that many studies did not explicitly follow a specific theory of affect despite the growing number, diversity and contrasts between different theories of affect (Furtak, 2018).…”

“…One study found that people had negative responses when shown images of flooding and sea level rise, regardless of whether they were skeptical about the causes of climate change (Lorenzoni et al, 2006). Another study found respondents in India had lesser negative emotional responses to climate change affective imagery; a lack of knowledge and awareness of climate change risks could potentially explain these findings (Thaker et al, 2020). Affective imagery used in climate change risk communication can also trigger memories that result in preventive behavior (Siegrist and Gutscher, 2006;Smith and Joffe, 2009;Lefevre et al, 2015).…”

“…Thaker et al (2020) Less intense affective responses in climate change risk perception could be influenced by low public awareness and understanding of climate change Thaker et al (2020). suggest that more studies that consider the role of affective responses in climate change risk perception in the developing world and poor nations is needed.…”

Farmers’ Perceived Vulnerability and Proactive versus Reactive Climate Change Adaptation in Chile’s Maule Region

“…Nevertheless, in the literature, increasing attention has been given to perceived vulnerability and awareness of climate change [33,41,42], as it has been demonstrated that there is a strong link between perceptions and adaptation [11,[14][15][16][43][44][45][46]. Likewise, the relationship between perceived vulnerability and bio-physical data has also been studied and it was concluded that there is a positive trend between them [42,47]. However, there is also evidence of an underestimation of bio-physical vulnerability and how it is affected by social, psychological, and demographic variables.…”