India is the only market across 32 markets believing increase in global average temperatures by more than +1.5° C is not that big a deal.
Mumbai: A new survey by Ipsos for Earth Day titled Ipsos People and Climate Change Report shows majority of Indians are concerned about the impact of climate change but fewer feel they need to act. The findings are alarming on two fronts – first, concern around climate change has declined by -13% to 64% in 2025 from 78% in 2022. Likewise, the urgency to act has seen a drop of -15% to 54% in 2025 from 69% in 2021.
Ipsos, one of the world’s leading market research companies, announces the findings of a new 32-country study for Earth Day, perceptions of the risks facing us from the climate crisis as well as where the responsibility is for greater action.
Commenting on the findings of the survey, Parijat Chakraborty, Group Service Line Leader, Public Affairs, Corporate Reputation, ESG and CSR, Ipsos India said, “Every year we witness the impact of climate change through natural calamities, extreme weather conditions and pollution. What is more alarming to see is the trend of declining interest and concern among citizens around climate change and their complacency and lack of urgency in their need to act. Indians are by far losing interest and becoming disengaged.”
This trend is further accentuated with 37% Indians believing +1.5˚c temperature rise is not a big deal – highest globally. In case of global citizens, while 17% agree that an increase of global temperatures by more than 1.5˚c is not that big a deal, 53% disagree with this statement.
As part of the 2015 Paris Agreement, world leaders aimed to limit global average temperature increases to 1.5˚c above pre-industrial levels. The target of 1.5˚c is seen as essential to mitigate the most significant risks of climate change. This includes the increasing frequency and the strength of extreme weather as well as being a tipping point for the breakdown of major ocean circulation systems and collapse of tropical coral reef systems. In 2024 the average global temperature exceeded the 1.5˚c target for the first time in a calendar year (see chart).
People recognise the importance of hitting that target. A majority across 32 countries say it is a big deal if global average temperatures surpass the figure.
Indians showing disinterest also stems from the fact that at least 56% Indians believe as a country we are already sacrificing a lot to tackle climate change. And citizens have this strong belief that India is already a global leader in fight against climate change – though we see a drop in those who express this view – from 71% in 2023 to 56% in 2025.
Further, 1-2 citizens (56%) also believe that we have a clear plan in place for how government, businesses and people themselves are going to work together to tackle climate change. Which is true to some extent with stringent measures for reducing carbon emissions and moving towards electrification. Then there are ambitious targets of banning Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles by 2035.
Though financial worries hamper transition from fossil fuels. 39% Indians and 44% global citizens believe that transitioning to renewable energy will lead to an increase in household energy prices. In much of Europe too similar sentiment is being expressed. A majority in Germany, Netherlands and France feel this way. Europeans are also more likely to think electric cars are as bad for the planet as petrol/ gas-powered cars.
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