A vast majority of adults in Tamil Nadu say they have personally experienced the effects of global warming, according to new Climate Opinion Maps released by the Yale Programme on Climate Change Communication.
The data, published on November 17, shows that 90% of adults in the State report first-hand experience of climate impacts — one of the highest levels in India.
About 66% also say they know “a lot” or “something” about global warming.
Tamil Nadu, one of India’s most urbanised and industrialised States, has been facing rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and frequent extreme weather events. The State government has, in recent years, set up the Tamil Nadu Governing Council on Climate Change and drafted a State Action Plan on Climate Change to guide mitigation and adaptation efforts.
As per a release, the newly released maps offer State-level and district-level insights into how people across India perceive and experience climate-related risks. Nationally, majority report experiencing severe heatwaves (71%), agricultural pests and diseases (59%), power outages (59%), water pollution (53%), drought and water shortages (52%), and severe air pollution (51%) in the past year.
The data shows wide regional variations. In Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Odisha, 78–80% of adults say they personally experienced severe heatwaves. In contrast, the figure is lower in Kerala (55%) and Tamil Nadu (52%).
Experiences of cyclones also differ sharply: while only 35% of Indians report facing severe cyclones, the number rises to 64% in Odisha, which was heavily affected by Cyclone Dana in October 2024.
The report also highlights strong public belief in climate change’s role in extreme weather. Interestingly, belief does not always depend on personal experience. In Tamil Nadu, 74% say global warming is affecting severe storms, though only 21% recall experiencing one in the past year.
“As India rapidly develops while facing intensifying extreme weather, these maps can help leaders design climate strategies that reflect people’s lived realities,” said Jagadish Thaker, Senior Lecturer, University of Queensland and one of the lead authors of the project.
Lead researcher Jennifer Marlon added that understanding public perceptions is crucial for shaping effective climate communication and adaptation policies.
The maps are based on survey responses from more than 19,000 people across 34 States and Union Territories, collected between 2022 and 2025 and modelled using multi-level regression with post-stratification. Researchers from Yale University and C-Voter contributed to the project.
Published – November 19, 2025 05:30 am IST
