A decade of climate change concern in India: Determinants of personal and societal climate concern

Scientists have called for a culturally relevant investigation of factors impacting public climate concern to devise relevant behavioural and policy interventions. Although India will be adversely affected by climate change, there is a shortage of models that track changes in Indian climate concern across time. The study tracked the growth of climate concern from 2006 to 2020 and identifies determinants of personal and societal climate concern. Secondary analyses of survey data from the International Science Survey and World Values Survey (2006-2020, N = 9254), were conducted to predict climate concern across the year, environmental protection versus economic growth preferences, and socio-demographic variables. Within responses from 2020 (N = 3176), the predictive role of anthropogenic climate change beliefs, trust in scientists, adequate government action, collective efficacy, environmental protection preferences, and sociodemographic variables were evaluated to understand personal and societal climate concern. Binary logistic regression found that climate concern increased significantly from 2006 (2.6%) to 2020 (89.5%) and was predicted by education and preferences for environmental protection. Multiple regression results identified personal climate concern as predicted by education, anthropogenic climate change beliefs, trust in scientists, and environmental protection preferences; while government action beliefs and favouring left-wing affiliation predicted societal climate concern. There was mixed support for the political polarization of climate concern. The study shows an increase in Indian climate change concern over the past decade, with personal and societal climate concern being influenced by different psychological characteristics. Important implications for future climate communication research and social policy development are discussed.