Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 18: As global temperatures continue to rise, a new report reveals that more than 70 per cent of Indians have personally faced extreme heat waves, along with droughts and water shortages, in recent years. The findings come from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, which surveyed over 19,000 people between 2022 and 2025 to produce detailed Climate Opinion Maps for India.
The data highlights widespread exposure to multiple climate-related challenges. Nationally, respondents reported experiencing severe heat waves (71 per cent), agricultural pests and diseases (59 per cent), frequent power outages (59 per cent), water pollution (53 per cent), droughts and water scarcity (52 per cent), and severe air pollution (51 per cent) within the past year.
“These maps offer crucial insights into how people across India perceive and experience climate impacts,” said Dr. Jagadish Thaker, Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland and one of the report’s lead authors. He noted that this information can help state and local governments design climate strategies that align with people’s lived realities and build long-term public support.
The survey also highlights striking regional differences. States such as Rajasthan, Haryana, and Odisha reported some of the highest exposure to severe heat waves (80 per cent each), closely followed by Uttar Pradesh at 78 per cent. In contrast, the numbers were much lower in Kerala (55 per cent) and Tamil Nadu (52 per cent).
Cyclone-related experiences showed similar variation. Only 35 per cent of Indians nationally reported facing severe cyclones, but in Odisha — battered by Cyclone Dana in October 2024 — the figure soared to 64 per cent. Odisha also reported alarmingly high levels of drought-related experiences, with more than two-thirds of its residents affected.
Lead researcher Dr. Jennifer Marlon noted that the granular data across India’s states and districts will help policymakers understand how people perceive climate risks and tailor adaptation, communication, and development policies accordingly.
The report underscores that as India faces accelerating climate extremes amid rapid development, integrating public experience into climate planning is becoming increasingly essential.