New Delhi, April 10 -- Almost half of Africans who are aware of climate change believe that their own governments bear the primary responsibility for addressing the crisis and reducing its impacts, according to a major new survey.

The findings, published in the journal Nature, are based on an analysis of Afrobarometer, Africa's largest public opinion survey. Conducted across 39 countries, the study drew on responses from 53,444 individuals. Of these, 26,735 respondents said they had heard of climate change, and it is their views that the analysis focused on.

Among this group, 45 per cent placed primary responsibility for climate action on their national governments. A further 30 per cent believe ordinary Africans themselves must take th...