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Public Perceptions of Climate Change and Its Health Impacts: Taking Account of People’s Exposure to Floods and Air Pollution

Author

Listed:
  • Hilary Graham

    (Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK)

  • Alexander Harrison

    (Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK)

  • Pete Lampard

    (Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK)

Abstract

Climate change-related exposures such as flooding and ambient air pollution place people’s health at risk. A representative UK survey of adults investigated associations between reported flooding and air pollution (in the participants’ local area, by the participant personally, and/or by family and close friends) and climate change concerns (CCC) and perceptions of its health impacts (PIH). In regression analyses controlling for socio-demographic factors and health status, exposure was associated with greater CCC and more negative PIH. Compared to those with low CCC, participants who reported local-area exposure were significantly more likely to be fairly (OR 2.07, 95%CI 1.26, 3.40) or very concerned (OR 3.40, 95%CI 2.02, 5.71). Odds of greater CCC were higher for those reporting personal and/or family exposure (‘fairly concerned’: OR 2.83, 95%CI 1.20, 6.66; ‘very concerned’: OR 4.11, 95%CI 1.69, 10.05) and for those reporting both local and personal/family exposure (‘fairly concerned’: OR 3.35, 95%CI 1.99, 5.63; ‘very concerned’: OR 6.17, 95%CI 3.61, 10.55). For PIH, local exposure significantly increased the odds of perceiving impacts as ‘more bad than good’ (1.86, 95%CI 1.22, 2.82) or ‘entirely bad’ (OR 1.88; 95%CI 1.13, 3.13). Our study suggests that public awareness of climate-related exposures in their local area, together with personal exposures and those of significant others, are associated with heightened concern about climate change and its health impacts.

Suggested Citation

  • Hilary Graham & Alexander Harrison & Pete Lampard, 2022. "Public Perceptions of Climate Change and Its Health Impacts: Taking Account of People’s Exposure to Floods and Air Pollution," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:4:p:2246-:d:750888
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Liliana Cori & Gabriele Donzelli & Francesca Gorini & Fabrizio Bianchi & Olivia Curzio, 2020. "Risk Perception of Air Pollution: A Systematic Review Focused on Particulate Matter Exposure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-27, September.
    2. Hilary Graham & Piran White & Jacqui Cotton & Sally McManus, 2019. "Flood- and Weather-Damaged Homes and Mental Health: An Analysis Using England’s Mental Health Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-12, September.
    3. Teresa A. Myers & Edward W. Maibach & Connie Roser-Renouf & Karen Akerlof & Anthony A. Leiserowitz, 2013. "The relationship between personal experience and belief in the reality of global warming," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 3(4), pages 343-347, April.
    4. Jayajit Chakraborty & Timothy W. Collins & Sara E. Grineski & Alejandra Maldonado, 2017. "Racial Differences in Perceptions of Air Pollution Health Risk: Does Environmental Exposure Matter?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-16, January.
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