title: Assessment of awareness regarding climate change in an urban community.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Climate change has emerged as one of the most devastating environmental threats. It is essential to assess the awareness regarding climate change in the general population for framing the mitigation activities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the awareness regarding climate change in an urban community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urban field practice area of a medical college in the Pune city. Observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cross-sectional survey was conducted in the urban adult population who had given the written consent. A pre-tested questionnaire was used for a face to face interview. Responses were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Proportions, percentage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total 733 respondents above 18 years of age were included in the present survey. 672 (91.68%) respondents commented that global climate is changing. 547 (81.40%) respondents opined that human activities are contributing to climate change. 576 (85.71%) respondents commented that climate changing based on their personal experiences. Commonest source of information about climate change was television (59.78%). Poor awareness about UNFCC, Kyoto Protocol and IPCC was found. 549 (74.90%) respondents commented that deforestation contribute most significantly towards climate change. As per 530 (72.31%) respondents water related issues are due to changing climate change. According to 529 (72.17%) respondents, direct physical hazards of extreme climatic events are most important health related impact of climate change. According to 478 (65.21%) respondents, life style changes (63.3%) would be most effective in tackling climate change and for preventing further climate change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The urban general population is aware about changing global climate. Personal efforts are more important in mitigating climate change as per the urban general population. The awareness campaigns regarding mitigation activities are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Smt. Kashibai Navale Medical College, Narhe, Pune, India.
authors.forename: Harshal T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Pandve
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Chawla
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Samir A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Singru
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Khismatrao
authors.forename: Sangita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pawar