By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS,
London : Optimism that climate change can be managed has fallen more sharply in India than in any other major economy of the world, according to an annual index published Monday.
The Climate Change Monitor’s measure of optimism that climate change can be managed fell by six percent globally since 2007.
But the decline in India was a steep 15 percent – only 30 percent of Indians are optimistic this year compared to 45 percent in 2007, said the index, which is compiled by a partnership comprising HSBC Bank, the Climate Group, WWF, Earthwatch Institute and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
Overall, however, the picture was one of optimism with just over a month to go before a key UN summit in Copenhagen that will try to agree on ways to combat climate change and fight its impact.
In general, people in developing countries are more concerned about climate change, with more than half of people in Mexico citing the issue as a major problem and 42 percent in Brazil and India.
“Whilst levels of optimism dropped the most in emerging markets this year, especially in India, three times more people in these countries are hopeful that climate change can be managed than those in the developed world,” the report said.
A fall in optimism and low levels of confidence in leaders suggests that people are becoming more pessimistic about the scale of the challenge that climate change presents, said the report which monitors 12 major economies – Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Mexico and the US.
The report said people still believe that action should be taken – by personal commitments to reduce individual carbon footprints; a concrete global deal on emissions at Copenhagen; and bold national action.
The findings reveal that low-carbon choices are becoming “embedded” in consumer lifestyles, as many people who are pessimistic about climate change are still prepared to take action.
Some of these are simple actions that have the additional benefit of saving money, such as reducing electricity use.
Britain was the most pessimistic about the world’s ability to tackle climate change, with almost half believing nothing can be done compared to 38 percent worldwide.
British people were also the least concerned – just 15 percent of Britons worry about climate change and how the world responds to the problem, the lowest figure.
The good news for optimists was that despite the global recession and swine flu epidemic, as many as 69 percent agreed that prioritising public spending on climate change is at least as important as – if not more than – supporting their national economy during the downturn.
Steve Howard, CEO of The Climate Group, said: “World leaders must agree a deal in Copenhagen that unlocks low carbon jobs and growth, and enables the rest of us to make smarter, greener choices about the ways we heat our homes, fuel our cars and power our businesses.”