Association of Public Awareness and Knowledge of Climatic Change With Sociodemographic Factors

Abstract

Introduction

The earth has experienced significant shifts in climate patterns over the past few years. The main aim of this investigation was to establish the association between the sociodemographic factors on the extent of knowledge, perspectives, and awareness of the urban population in Delhi and the phenomenon of climate change.

Materials and methods

This study was conducted on 1,200 individuals residing in Delhi, India, who were given a well-organized validated questionnaire to gather data. The relationship between different factors influencing awareness and climate change was evaluated using the chi-square test.

Results

The investigation's findings revealed that the younger generations exhibited heightened consciousness as a result of the impact of education and social media, both of which possess an exceedingly significant role in the dissemination of awareness. Additional elements that influenced the participants' awareness regarding climate change encompassed their educational attainment, profession, and financial resources, which were noticeably more advantageous for the upper and upper-middle social strata. A majority of the respondents, amounting to 65%, hailed from the middle class, with 61% of them holding degrees. The majority of the respondents were well-informed about climate change, with a predominant percentage falling within the age range of 21-40 years (77%) and over the age of 61 years (73%). Notably, 92% of the respondents belonging to the upper class exhibited awareness of climate change. About 52% of the respondents expressed a moderate level of concern towards climate change.

Conclusions

The analysis revealed that most individuals possessed knowledge regarding the impact of climate change on their way of life. Consequently, they acknowledged the significance of acquiring a more comprehensive understanding of climate change.