How Americans Respond to Information About Global Warming's Health Impacts: Evidence From a National Survey Experiment

Abstract

Americans tend to see global warming as a distant threat, but a small body of previous research suggests that information about the health implications of global warming may enhance public engagement with the issue. We sought to extend those findings with a longitudinal study that examined how Americans react to information about eight specific categories of health impacts from global warming. In winter 2017, we conducted a two‐wave survey experiment using a quota sample of American adults (n = 2,254). Participants were randomly assigned to a treatment group who read eight brief essays about different categories of health impacts from global warming or to a control group who received no information. Participants answered questions before reading the essays, immediately after reading each essay and at the conclusion of all essays (treatment participants only), and 2–3 weeks later. Reading the information had small‐ to medium‐sized effects on multiple indicators of participants' cognitive and affective engagement with global warming, especially among people who are politically moderate and somewhat conservative; some of these changes persisted 2–3 weeks later. Some impacts were seen as more novel and worrisome, including illnesses from contaminated food, water, and disease‐carrying organisms. Our findings provide the most definitive evidence to date about the importance of raising awareness about the health impacts of global warming. While participants believed all of the essays as offered valuable information, educational efforts might most productively focus on impacts that are relatively less familiar and more emotionally engaging, such as food‐, water‐, and vector‐borne illnesses.

Views of health professionals on climate change and health: a multinational survey study

“… 10 Thankfully, a growing body of evidence suggests that providing people with information about the health harms of climate change, as well as solutions to address them, can increase public support for the actions needed to reduce emissions. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 As a result, health professionals have an extraordinary opportunity to become trusted voices in support of global efforts to reduce emissions and protect people from the threat of climate change. 16 Indeed, some health professionals have recognised this opportunity and have begun to encourage their colleagues to get involved in efforts to advocate for increased action.…”

Making the climate crisis personal through a focus on human health

“…Funding for interdisciplinary research at the intersection of climate change and human health is similarly anemic (Ebi et al 2016 ). In public discussions, the lack of emphasis on climate change as a health problem persists, despite research indicating that a health frame motivates high levels of support for climate change mitigation and adaptation policies (Maibach et al 2010 ; Nabi et al 2018 ; Walker et al 2018 ; Kotcher et al 2018 ). In a recent study in North America, few members of the general public were able to identify any specific health problems linked to climate change, nor could they identify any at-risk populations, though respondents appeared to view the climate crisis as a threat to health (Hathaway and Maibach 2018 ).…”

Fen Bilimleri Öğretmen Adaylarının Yenilenebilir Enerji Kaynaklarına Yönelik Tutumlarının Bazı Değişkenlere Göre İncelenmesi

“…Yenice ve Alpak Tunç, (2018) tarafından yürütülen çalışmada, öğretmen adaylarının çevre sorunlarına farkındalıkları ile yenilenebilir enerji kaynaklarına yönelik tutumları arasında orta düzeyde pozitif yönlü bir ilişki tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca çevre sorunlarının insan sağlığına zararlarına odaklanmanın, bireylerde duygusal olarak tutumu ve duyarlılığı arttırdığına yönelik çalışmalar bulunmaktadır (Kotcher, Maibach, Montoro ve Hassol, 2018;Myers, Nisbet, Maibach ve Leiserowitz, 2012). Öğretim programları sağlık bilgisi ve çevre eğitimi arasındaki ilişkiyi kuvvetlendirmesi, yenilenebilir enerjiye yönelik duyarlılığı olumlu yönden etkileyebilir.…”