Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is knocking at every door in India. According to a recent Yale-Cvoter survey (December 2024 – February 2025), 38% of Indians have faced food insecurity in the past year, which is being considered a direct impact of climate change.

2024 was the hottest year in India’s history, with the average temperature being 0.65°C above normal.

71% of Indians have been affected by this extreme heat wave. As a direct result, agricultural production has been severely disrupted. The survey data shows that three out of every four Indians are concerned about food shortages and they directly blame global warming for this.

Not only food insecurity, but other dire effects of climate change are also disrupting public life:

Agricultural crisis: 60% of people are suffering from crop pest and disease problems.

Power outages: 59% of people experience frequent power outages.

Water and air pollution: 53% of people suffer from water pollution and 52% from severe air pollution.

Drought and water scarcity: 52% of people suffer from drought and water scarcity.

Multiple factors have been identified behind the food crisis in India. Foremost among them is climate change, which is disrupting crop production through extreme heat, drought and floods. In addition, insect attacks on crops and outbreaks of diseases have further complicated the situation. Economic inequality also plays a significant role in this crisis; those who have recently come out of poverty are also at risk of food insecurity.

Awareness vs. practical action: Indians’ dual stance
Hopefully, Indians are showing good will to tackle climate change. The survey found that 86% support the Indian government’s net-zero target by 2070. In fact, 93% of people are ready to make changes in their daily lives to protect the environment. India is moving rapidly towards electric vehicles and is expected to sell 17 million EVs annually by 2030, a testament to its environmental awareness.

However, alongside this goodwill, there is a major lack of awareness. The survey found that 32% of Indians have never heard of global warming. This clearly indicates that there is a need to further increase awareness among the general public about climate change and its local impacts.

Survey Details
This important survey was conducted by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and CVOTER. The survey was conducted from December 5, 2024 to February 18, 2025, and surveyed 10,751 adults in India. The data was collected through mobile phone interviews in 12 different languages.

Climate change is having a serious impact on India’s food, water and air. Despite growing concerns about food shortages, the Indian public is ready to take action to protect the environment. A combined effort by the government and society is essential to address this crisis and build a greener future.