Abstract
Background At a time of intersecting public health crises of COVID-19 and climate change, understanding public perceptions of the health risks of climate change is critical to inform risk communication and support the adoption of adaptive behaviours. In Canada, very few studies have explored public understandings and perceptions of climate impacts on health. Methods This study addresses this gap through a nationally-representative survey of Canadians (n=3,014) to explore public perceptions and awareness regarding the link between climate change and health in Canada. The 116-question survey measured awareness of the link between climate change and health, affective assessment of climate health impacts, unprompted knowledge of climate health impacts, and concern about a range of impacts. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to test for differences in median values among sociodemographic groups. The survey also measured baseline climate opinion, which was used to segment the public into different audiences through a latent class analysis.Results Three climate opinion classes were identified in the sample (disengaged, concerned, and alarmed) and perceptions of climate health impacts were compared across these classes and other sociodemographic variables. Approximately half (53%) of respondents have considerable awareness of the link between climate change and health, and even more (61%) perceive climate change as bad for health. The majority of respondents (58%) can name one or more health impact without prompting. Concern about health impacts of climate change is highest among the alarmed and lowest among the disengaged, as compared to concerns about other categories of climate impacts such as economic. Across the survey, knowledge and concern are highest for water- and food-related health impacts.Conclusions The differential knowledge, awareness, and concern of climate health impacts across segments of the Canadian population can inform targeted communication and engagement to build broader support for adaptation and mitigation measures.
Health impacts of climate change and health and social inequalities in the UK
