only 3% consider it a political priority; according to a new study by Ek Kutumb (a research organisation working to understand values, identities, world views, perceptions of the people of India; and their relationship to climate change) that examines how citizens’ values and perceptions shape their response to climate change While 58% of Maharashtrians are concerned about climate change.
The study found that climate concerns are often understood through immediate, local experiences rather than scientific terminology. The findings also suggest that climate action does not necessarily compete with economic development in the citizens’ minds. When asked to choose between economic development and environmental protection, two-thirds of the respondents chose environmental protection. The study found that climate concerns were particularly high among people whose livelihoods are directly dependent on land and water, suggesting that direct exposure to environmental changes may influence perceptions more strongly than education or geography. “Citizen participation is shaped by which communities trust which institutions, the values driving their willingness to act, and where policy is likely to encounter friction. The study found relatively modest levels of trust in different institutions and groups involved in environmental issues.
The report, ‘State of Mind: Mapping Values and Climate Perceptions – Maharashtra Edition’, is based on responses from 6,160 people across Maharashtra. When the respondents were asked to identify environmental problems without being prompted, 39% cited changing weather patterns, 38% pollution, and 28% rainfall-related problems. Only 1.5% used terms such as ‘global warming’. Overall, 58% said that they are concerned about climate change, while another 23% were uncertain. Government and local authorities, NGOs and foundations, climate activists and local youth groups recorded trust levels ranging from 26% to 36%.
The organisation describes it as one of the largest, state-level psychographic studies in India and says it examines how climate concerns translate — or fail to translate — into individual action, political priorities and trust in institutions. Deepa Bhatia, CEO, Ek Kutumb Solutions, said that climate policy needs to account for how citizens understand environmental risks and responsibility. “India’s climate response must include a localised approach that starts with understanding its citizens and their perceptions of climate interventions,” Bhatia said. The differences between these groups have implications for how climate programmes are designed and communicated, as messages that resonate with one group may have limited impact on another, according to Ek Kutumb.
