Does the public perceive climate change as a health risk?

Until recently, little evidence was available on the links between human health and climate change, as well as on public awareness of such links. At least concerning those going beyond injuries, deaths and illnesses resulting from extreme weather conditions. Now we also know that links exist in relation to human migration and increased vulnerability to poverty.

The study attempts to answer questions of public concern, such as whether the public believes that climate change poses a risk to human health and if so, whether this is seen as a current or a future risk, whose health the public thinks will be harmed, and how the public believes that climate change affects human health.

The main findings of the research show that:

 a majority of people believe that climate change poses significant risks to human health; moreover, it is said that people are already being harmed by climate change. About a third of people see themselves, their families and people in their community as being vulnerable to at least moderate harm from climate change; many people believe the elderly, children and people in developing countries to be most at risk from the negative effects of climate change.

 However, climate change appears to lack salience as a health issue in the public perception with no clear associations between health and climate. A large number of those surveyed - but only when specifically prompted - listed respiratory problems, heath-related problems, cancer and infectious diseases as the major health risks due to climate change. Also sunburns, injuries from extreme weather events and allergies were listed as significant consequences of climate change.

In conclusion, the researchers recommend "mounting public health communication initiatives that increase the salience of the human health consequences associated with climate change". In addition, it has been explicitly stated that the public health community has an opportunity to frame the public and policy perception on climate change and human health associations in order to engage individuals, governments and a range of other stakeholders in support of relevant policy developments.

To read the research please click here.

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