CSM conducted a survey of MPs in the month of July, 2009. The questionnaire was sent to 802 MPs. Of them 552 are Lok Sabha members and 250 are Rajya Sabha members.
The number of MPs to respond was abysmally low. It is just an insignificant 23.So the percentage of MPs who have actually responded is 2.86 (2.17 % of Lok Sabha members and 4.4% of Rajya Sabha members).This is too low to arrive at a conclusion. This fact shows us how much more our MPs need to be sensitized on the issue of Climate Change.
I. Age wise distribution of respondents
Age Group Numbers
Percentage (Considering the total number of response to be 23)
Below 40 2 8.69
40-49 3 13.04
50-59 3 13.04
60-69 8 34.78
70-79 5 21.73
Above 80 1 4.34
Not known 1 4.34
Fig 1. Profiles the age of the MPs and their corresponding percentage.
8.7% respondents are below 40 years of age.13 % of the respondents are in the range of 40 to 49 years. Again, 13% are in the range of 50 to 59 years of age. However most surprisingly, 35 % of the respondents are in the age group of 60 to 69 years. This shows that senior members have taken CC quite seriously.22 % of the respondents are in the age ranging from 70 to 79 years. Only one MP who has crossed 80 years of age was prudent enough to respond.
II. Party wise distribution of Respondents
Party Name Number Percentage
Indian National Congress (INC) 3 15
Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) 10 40
National Congress Party (NCP) 1 5
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) 1 5
Swatantra Bharat Paksh (SBP) 1 5
Communist Party of India (CPI) 1 5
Mizo National Front (MNF) 1 5
AIADMK 1 5
Not known 4 15
III. Survey Responses:
Question 1.
In February 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), comprising 600+ of the world’s top climate scientists, confirmed that climate change is real and that it is happening largely as a result of rising carbon dioxide emissions since the 1750s. The IPCC further confirmed there is more than 90% chance that this is due to human activity since the industrial age.
Do you agree with this conclusion?
Yes 21/23 : 91%
No 2/23 : 9 %
Fig 2. Showing percentage of respondents who hold anthropogenic activities to be the main cause of CC
91% of the respondents feel that human beings are to be solely blamed for the unprecedented rise in earth temperatures. 9 % feel it to be otherwise.
Question 2.
The IPCC estimates that if the world does not control carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the effects of climate change will include: warming of over 6 degrees Celsius; global sea level rise over 1 metre; melting of Himalayan glaciers which provide water to 1 billion people in Asia; major declines in agriculture productivity; extinction of up to 40% of animal species; acidification of the oceans, and so on.
Are these consequences of climate change acceptable?
Yes 15/23 : 65%
No 8/23 : 35%
Fig 3. Showing the percentage of respondents who have faith in the IPCC predictions and the ones who do not.
As high as 65 % of the respondents are intimidated and feel that if the world does not control carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the effects of climate change will include: warming of over 6 degrees Celsius; global sea level rise over 1 metre; melting of Himalayan glaciers which provide water to 1 billion people in Asia; major declines in agriculture productivity; extinction of up to 40% of animal species; acidification of the oceans, and so on. On the contrary, 35 % donot accept these IPCC forecasts. They have to be taught the clear science behind CC.
Question 3.
The IPCC further estimates that we have less than ten years to reduce global emissions if we are to prevent climate change becoming irreversible and getting out of control. This means that global emissions must peak by 2015.
Were you aware of this?
Yes 16/23 : 70%
No 7/23 : 30%
Fig 4. Showing percentage that is aware of the IPCC Reports and the percentage that is not.
70% of the respondents are aware of the IPCC Reports are its spine chilling predictions.However, 30 % are still groping in the dark.
Question 4.
Among the major projected impacts of climate change on India is the melting of the Himalayan glaciers and its effects on India’s water security. The glaciers are the source of drinking water for more than a billion people in India, China and the
Region. Studies suggest that the glaciers could be reduced to one-fifth their size in two decades.
Does that concern you?
Yes 22/23 : 96%
No 1/23 : 4%
Fig 5.Showing percentage who are concerned about India’s water security.
96% of the respondents think seriously about India’s water security.India is largely dependant on surface water. Once the glaciers in the Himalayas melt, there will be short term over supply and long term scarcity.
Question 5.
Other projected impacts of climate change on India include reduced agricultural productivity and destabilization of the monsoons. Given the importance of the monsoons to Indian society and economy, and the fact that agriculture employs more than 60% of our population, these impacts could have serious implications for food security, economic health and social stability.
Does that concern you?
Yes 21/23 : 91%
No 1/23 : 4%
Not known 1/23 : 4%
Fig 6.Showing the percentage who are worried about India’s food security.
91% of the MPs are concerned about India’s food security. 4 % of them think otherwise while another 4 % are not informed about the havoc that CC can cause on our food security.
Question 6.
China is now the world’s largest emitter of climate-changing greenhouse gases and India the fourth largest emitter. India is projected to be amongst the top three emitters worldwide within 20 years.
Were you aware of this?
Yes 11/23 : 48%
No 10/23 : 43%
Not known 2/23 : 9%
Fig.7.Showing percentage who keep track of India’s position as a climate hotspot
Only 48 % of the MPs who have responded is aware of the fact that India is projected amongst the top three largest emitters of the world. As high as 43% are unaware of this fact.9 % donot know so they some how fall in the same loop as above. This means that 50% of the MPs who have responded have kept track of India’s position as a climate change hotspot.
Question 7.
In 2008, the UPA-led government issued a National Action Plan on Climate Change to address climate change in India. It set out eight ‘Missions’ to deal with the challenge.
Are you aware of the Action Plan and can you name any or all of the Missions?
Yes 12/23 : 52%
No 11/23 : 50%
Fig.8. Showing the percentage who are aware of the NAPCC Report.
Only 52 % are aware of the National Action Plan on Climate Change – this is quite an alarming scenario. This means that the MPs have to have rigorous orientation programmes. Being a part of the Government machinery they have no cue to the NAPCC Report.
Could name all the Eight Missions correctly 2/12 : 17%
Could name more than 4 Missions rightly 1/12 : 8%
Could name more than 2 Missions rightly 3/12 : 25%
Could not name any but is aware of the Missions 4/12 : 33%
Is aware of the Missions and has attempted to pen
down but could not name correctly. 2/12 : 17%
Fig 9.Showing the percentage who are aware of the Missions and their level of awareness.
This is the second part of the question. A closer look reveals that 52 % who are aware of the NAPCC Report and its key Eight Missions- out of them only 2 could name all the Eight Missions rightly. This means 17% of the ones who have heard of the NAPCC Report. As low as 8% could name more than 4 Missions and 25% could name more than 2 Missions. However, a good 33 % is aware of the Missions but could not name any.17% that is two of the MPs penned down all wrong Missions.
Question 8.
In December 2009, 190 governments will come together to discuss a global way forward – the so-called ‘Global Deal’ – on climate change under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). India is one of the parties to the Convention and is taking part in the negotiations.
Were you aware of the Convention and can you name the city where the ‘Global Deal’ meeting of the UNFCCC will take place in December 2009?
Yes 14/23 : 61%
No 9/23 : 39%
Name of the City ……………………………….
Fig.10.Showing the percentage who are aware of the CoP 15 Meeting.
61% of the MPs are aware of the CoP 15 Meet while 39% have not heard of any such thing.
Is aware of the Global Deal and has named the city rightly 11/14 : 79%
Is aware of the Global Deal but could not name the city 3/14 : 21%
Fig.11.Showing the percentage who could name the venue of the CoP 15 Meet rightly and the percentage that could not.
Out of the 14 (61%) who are aware of the CoP 15 Meet as many as 11 have named the city correctly that is 79 % and 3 could not name the city rightly that is 21%.However,they know about CoP 15.
Question 9.
India is playing a major role in the UN climate negotiations asking that developed countries make large, legally binding cuts in their emissions before emerging powers such as India should be asked to make cuts. Given the crisis of climate change and India’s vulnerability to climate impacts, do you think this is the right strategy?
Yes 20/23 : 87%
No 1/23 : 4%
Not known 2/23 : 9%
If No, what do you think India’s strategy should be? ………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Fig.12.Showing the percentage who feels that India has taken the right stand.
87 % of the respondents feel that India has taken absolutely the right stand by asking that developed countries make large, legally binding cuts in their emissions before emerging powers such as India should be asked to make cuts. 4% feel otherwise and 9 % of the respondents have no idea.
Question 10.
Leading thinkers across the world say that our economic development model is unsustainable and that new indicators of prosperity that go beyond GDP are required if we are to have Sustainable Development – i.e. development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations.
Do you agree?
Yes 19/23 : 82%
No 2/23 : 9%
No opinion 2/23 : 9%
Fig.13.Showing the percentage who want a sustainable growth pattern for India.
82% of the respondents agrees to the fact that an overhauling of the current system is required to meet the climate challenge.9 % think in the reverse direction 9 % declined any opinion.
In conclusion it can be said that more responses need to come in so that a holistic picture can be obtained.
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