Indians most concerned about global warming: Survey

Indians are far more concerned about global warming than any other nationality, despite the emerging economy being accused of resisting the need to tackle climate change, a global survey has said.

Indians cared most about carbon emissions, with 55 per cent describing themselves as "very concerned" about the issue while just 32 per cent of Britons felt the same way, the survey conducted by Seattle-based research group Global Market Insite found.

While emerging economies like India and China are often accused of resisting the need to tackle climate change, the survey suggested that people of these two countries are more worried about climate change, the survey said.

People in India and China are more willing than citizens of industrialized nations to place restrictions on carbon emissions, the survey published in the latest issue of New Scientist said.

Australian environmentalist Jon Dee, who headed the survey team, says the findings fly in the face of calls for developing countries to wake up to the threat of climate change.

The survey polled opinions from 14,000 people in 14 countries to gather solid data on how people feel about climate change, Dee said.

Almost 90 per cent of those surveyed thought governments should do more to tackle the issue.

"Right across the board America was behind on so many fronts in terms of attitudes, awareness and what they are fundamentally doing," Dee noted.