亚洲AV

Sharing the health benefits of climate solutions can boost public support for change

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Highlighting the health relevance of climate change and the health benefits of climate solutions can generate support for climate action, a study from 亚洲AV researchers has found.

capitol hill climate group
Lisa Patel, MD (center), executive director of Mason 4C鈥檚 Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, leads a gathering with health professionals and policy makers on Capitol Hill in March 2023. Photo by Richard Amoako

The research concludes that there is still limited understanding of the health effects of climate change in the United States, UK and Canada, with awareness higher in countries that are more vulnerable to climate change鈥檚 health impacts.

In many countries, health professionals are often considered trusted voices who can help to amplify and deliver the human health consequences of climate change.

鈥淭his is the most comprehensive review of research ever conducted on public understanding and health professional鈥檚 understanding of the human health relevance of climate change,鈥 said , a Distinguished University Professor and the director of 亚洲AV鈥檚 within the . 鈥淲e think the findings are important because they strongly suggest that health professionals can鈥攁nd many are willing to鈥攑lay an important role in building public support for ambitious climate action.鈥

The Global Review of Research on Effective Advocacy and Communications Strategies at the Intersection of Climate Change and Health report, which can be read in its entirety , also found that framing听climate change as a public health issue can be an effective way to enhance public engagement with the issue and generate support for pro-climate policies and action. Health-framed messaging can be particularly valuable as it increases support for climate action among people across the political spectrum, including among those who tend to be less concerned about climate change.

The authors cautioned that scarcity of data鈥攑articularly in non-Western contexts鈥攔emains a challenge for development of conclusive engagement strategies.听While the evidence for the effectiveness of framing climate change as a health issue is largely positive, a few studies show null or counterproductive effects under certain conditions, including when audiences have difficulty identifying with the people being impacted by climate change.

They also found that messaging emphasizing heightened vulnerability of some people may increase engagement among some audiences, but it could also undermine concern and support for action among audiences that are less vulnerable, which may exacerbate polarization.

The research was conducted by a team from the Mason鈥檚 Center for Climate Change Communication, including Maibach, John Kotcher (PhD Science Communication 鈥16), Eryn Campbell (PhD Climate Change Communication 鈥23), Kathryn Thier, and PhD students Saahi Uppalapati, Patrick Ansah, and Neha Gour. Uppalapati, Ansah, and Gour served as co-authors, and Richard Amoako, a PhD student in health communication, was the graphic designer for the report, which was commissioned by Wellcome, the global health foundation that supports science to solve urgent health challenges.

The report was shared during , the first U.N. climate change conference at which the human health effects of climate change are being acknowledged through an international declaration and a thematic day dedicated to discussion of the impact of climate change on health.

The review looked at research published in the past 23 years on the views of the public, health professionals, and public officials regarding the health impacts of climate change, and evaluations of different strategies for communicating these impacts and future risks. It included nearly 200 studies published in English, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish.

鈥淢ore research of this type should be done to confirm these findings, especially in the Global South, but we hope this review sends a clear 鈥榞reen light鈥 to the many health professionals who are already working to educate the public and policymakers about the health relevance of climate change,鈥 Maibach said.

The study鈥檚 authors propose a set of priorities for future research on public, health professionals, and policy-maker attitudes toward climate and health topics, including further context-specific research to address gaps in audience-driven climate and health communications.

The Center for Climate Change Communication is also host to the , a program that amplifies the trusted voices of doctors and other health professionals to educate and champion equitable climate solutions that protect and promote human health. Founded in 2016, the consortium鈥檚 membership includes 50 national medical societies that represent millions of health professionals and reflects the Center鈥檚 efforts as a leader in research-to-practice in climate communication.

Additional funding from Wellcome will allow researchers at the center to explore further how policymakers perceive health impacts of climate change.

听鈥淲e鈥檙e witnessing the drastic impacts of climate change on health more starkly each day, especially among communities most at risk,鈥 said Neha Dewan, a senior insight advisor at Wellcome Insights. 鈥淚nsights into how people receive messages about climate and health are important as we seek to raise awareness of the risks, and work for action to combat climate change.鈥