Concern over climate change dips globally but rising in India

Concerns over climate change are only second to profit amid the slowdown, but in India it is rising and over 54 per cent continue to be "very concerned" about global warming, a survey says.

According to research by the Nielsen Company and the Oxford University Institute of Climate Change, concern for climate change has declined globally in the past two years with many countries recording double digit fall. But in India worries have increased by one per cent in the said period.

"Global recession and economic woes temporarily knocked the climate change issue off the top line agenda, but as the recession is now beginning to recede, we expect the Copenhagen Summit may push this important issue to the forefront again," the Nielsen Company Business Insights Director Europe Jonathan Banks said.

Giving details the study said Indians are most concerned about air pollution (62 per cent), water pollution and water shortages concerns come next with 61 per cent. With 54 per cent, global warming is third on the list of concerns for Indians.

The findings of this survey comes at a time when the Prime Minister of India is participating in the Copenhagen climate change conference.

Moreover, in line with global sentiments, in India too majority of consumers believe that the main responsibility for solving climate change should lie with the government.