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Public Perceptions of Climate Change as a Human Health Risk: Surveys of the United States, Canada and Malta

Author

Listed:
  • Karen Akerlof

    (Center for Climate Change Communication, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA)

  • Roberto DeBono

    (Department of Public Health, Ministry for Health, the Elderly and Community Care, Valletta, VLT 2000, Malta)

  • Peter Berry

    (Health Canada, Ottawa, K1A 0K9, Canada)

  • Anthony Leiserowitz

    (Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA)

  • Connie Roser-Renouf

    (Center for Climate Change Communication, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA)

  • Kaila-Lea Clarke

    (Health Canada, Ottawa, K1A 0K9, Canada)

  • Anastasia Rogaeva

    (Health Canada, Ottawa, K1A 0K9, Canada)

  • Matthew C. Nisbet

    (School of Communication, American University, Washington, DC, USA)

  • Melinda R. Weathers

    (Center for Climate Change Communication, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA)

  • Edward W. Maibach

    (Center for Climate Change Communication, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA)

Abstract

We used data from nationally representative surveys conducted in the United States, Canada and Malta between 2008 and 2009 to answer three questions: Does the public believe that climate change poses human health risks, and if so, are they seen as current or future risks? Whose health does the public think will be harmed? In what specific ways does the public believe climate change will harm human health? When asked directly about the potential impacts of climate change on health and well-being, a majority of people in all three nations said that it poses significant risks; moreover, about one third of Americans, one half of Canadians, and two-thirds of Maltese said that people are already being harmed. About a third or more of people in the United States and Canada saw themselves (United States, 32%; Canada, 67%), their family (United States, 35%; Canada, 46%), and people in their community (United States, 39%; Canada, 76%) as being vulnerable to at least moderate harm from climate change. About one third of Maltese (31%) said they were most concerned about the risk to themselves and their families. Many Canadians said that the elderly (45%) and children (33%) are at heightened risk of harm, while Americans were more likely to see people in developing countries as being at risk than people in their own nation. When prompted, large numbers of Canadians and Maltese said that climate change can cause respiratory problems (78–91%), heat-related problems (75–84%), cancer (61–90%), and infectious diseases (49–62%). Canadians also named sunburn (79%) and injuries from extreme weather events (73%), and Maltese cited allergies (84%). However, climate change appears to lack salience as a health issue in all three countries: relatively few people answered open-ended questions in a manner that indicated clear top-of-mind associations between climate change and human health risks. We recommend mounting public health communication initiatives that increase the salience of the human health consequences associated with climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Karen Akerlof & Roberto DeBono & Peter Berry & Anthony Leiserowitz & Connie Roser-Renouf & Kaila-Lea Clarke & Anastasia Rogaeva & Matthew C. Nisbet & Melinda R. Weathers & Edward W. Maibach, 2010. "Public Perceptions of Climate Change as a Human Health Risk: Surveys of the United States, Canada and Malta," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-48, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:7:y:2010:i:6:p:2559-2606:d:8673
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ariel Malka & Jon A. Krosnick & Gary Langer, 2009. "The Association of Knowledge with Concern About Global Warming: Trusted Information Sources Shape Public Thinking," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5), pages 633-647, May.
    2. Jonathan A. Patz & Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum & Tracey Holloway & Jonathan A. Foley, 2005. "Impact of regional climate change on human health," Nature, Nature, vol. 438(7066), pages 310-317, November.
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    2. Drews, Stefan & Savin, Ivan & van den Bergh, Jeroen C.J.M. & Villamayor-Tomás, Sergio, 2022. "Climate concern and policy acceptance before and after COVID-19," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    3. Derick A. Akompab & Peng Bi & Susan Williams & Janet Grant & Iain A. Walker & Martha Augoustinos, 2012. "Awareness of and Attitudes towards Heat Waves within the Context of Climate Change among a Cohort of Residents in Adelaide, Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Jing Li & Xin Xu & Guoyong Ding & Yun Zhao & Ruixia Zhao & Fuzhong Xue & Jing Li & Jinghong Gao & Jun Yang & Baofa Jiang & Qiyong Liu, 2016. "A Cross-Sectional Study of Heat Wave-Related Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice among the Public in the Licheng District of Jinan City, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, June.
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    6. Karen L. Akerlof & Paul L. Delamater & Caroline R. Boules & Crystal R. Upperman & Clifford S. Mitchell, 2015. "Vulnerable Populations Perceive Their Health as at Risk from Climate Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-15, December.
    7. Katharina van Baal & Stephanie Stiel & Peter Schulte, 2023. "Public Perceptions of Climate Change and Health—A Cross-Sectional Survey Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-11, January.

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