India experienced record-high temperatures this year, but an impressive 76.69 percent of its population remains hopeful about avoiding the dire consequences of climate change in their lifetimes. This optimism significantly surpasses the global average of 47.04 percent, as revealed in the 2023 Climate Reality Barometer published by Epson, a company specializing in printing and imaging equipment.
It’s worth noting that the number of Indians considering climate change as the world’s most pressing issue has risen from 21.1 percent in 2022 to 58.64 percent this year. In parallel, 46.4 percent of Indians are concerned about rising prices. Globally, climate change remains the primary concern for 55.32 percent of respondents.
The report, which is based on a survey of 30,000 people across 39 global markets, indicates that India has the second-largest share of the population with optimism about averting a climate disaster during their lifetime. Only Saudi Arabia surpasses India in this regard.
In contrast, Japan stands out as the country with the highest percentage of pessimistic individuals who believe they won’t avert a climate disaster during their lifetime, with nearly half of the population sharing this view. Interestingly, only 10.38 percent of Indians express pessimism about avoiding a climate disaster in their lifetimes.