Current Projects

Informing public health messaging on health and climate change
University of York
Hilary Graham

Background:

Climate change is an increasing risk to people’s health in the UK, and one likely to widen health inequalities. Highlighting these health impacts is seen as a way of engaging the public in climate change and building public support for climate action. However, there is very little UK evidence on whether linking climate change to people’s health and health inequalities would increase public engagement and support.

An earlier PH-PRU project pointed to public concerns about fairness in climate impacts and policy benefits, including for future generations; impacts on wildlife were also a major concern.

Aims:

This new project will investigate the potential of health and other framings to increase public engagement in climate change and support for action. Attention will be paid to those with low levels of trust in government, a target group for national and local policymakers seeking population-wide interventions to address the health impacts of climate change.The project will help to identify how best to communicate messages about climate change and health to the general public, including with respect to varying message content for different population sub- groups.

Methods:

We will conduct UK-wider surveys of adults aged 18 and over to explore the effect of different framings of climate change on (i) how important the public considers it to be and (ii) public support for climate policies.

The survey questions will be informed by a literature review, social media analyses and community-based public involvement.

Reseach Team