Communication research to improve engagement with climate change and human health: A review

Abstract

Because of the world's dependence on fossil fuels, climate change and air pollution are profoundly harming both human and planetary health. Fortunately, climate solutions are also health solutions, and they present both local and global opportunities to foster cleaner, healthier, and safer communities. In this review, we briefly discuss the human health harms of climate change, climate and health solutions, and provide a thorough synthesis of social science research on climate and health communication. Through our review, we found that social science research provides an evidence-based foundation for messaging strategies that can build public and political will for climate and health solutions. Specifically, messages that convey the health harms of climate change and highlight the health benefits of climate solutions may be especially effective in building this public and political will. We also found that health professionals are trusted sources of information about climate change, and many have shown interest in engaging with the public and policymakers about the health relevance of climate change and clean energy. Together, the alignment between message strategies and the interest of highly trusted messengers strongly suggests the potential of health students and health professionals to create the conditions necessary to address climate change as a public health imperative. Therefore, our review serves as a resource for those interested in communicating about climate change and health and suggests that social scientists can continue to support practitioners with research and advice on the most effective communication strategies.

Climate Change Harm Perception Among U.S. Adults in the NCI Health Information National Trends Survey, 2022

“…Previous research has also linked trust in healthcare providers to environmentally protective behaviors and has found that doctors are trusted sources of information about global warming. 24 For example, an intervention in which pediatricians discussed climate change and its associated health harms with patients and their families during routine clinic visits found that 89% of families reported on a post-visit survey that they were likely to change their energy use behaviors and 91% reported that they were likely to support clean energy initiatives. 25 Study findings that trust in doctors was associated with greater climate harm perception indicates an opportunity to increase climate change mitigation actions and support using communication between healthcare professionals and the public.…”

Climate Change: An Issue That Should Be Part of Workers’ Information and Training Duties Envisaged by EU Directives on Occupational Health and Safety

“…Issues regarding the necessity to extend and improve research, management, and communication on CC and human-health-related topics are repeatedly stressed in the literature (see for instance Ebi; Agache et al; Campbell et al [21][22][23]).…”

How climate‐change awareness can provoke physical symptoms

“…Greater awareness of climate change and its impacts on health is necessary; so too is attention to the possible physical and psychological health impacts and consequences of such awareness. We propose that: (1) policy makers should promote climate-change awareness in collaboration with expert researchers and health practitioners to develop and evaluate specific collective prevention strategies using dedicated toolkits, such as the Yale Program of Climate Change Communication (Campbell et al 2023);…”