Engaging the public in climate change: How public health professsional can make the case

Most Americans view climate change as a threat to features of the environment (e.g., glaciers) and to non-human species (e.g., polar bears), if they view it as a threat at all. Polling research indicates that people are more likely to take actions that minimize climate change when they understand that climate change represents a serious threat to the human species as well. Public health professionals can play an important role in making the connection between climate change and human health in their communities, and at large. In this session, I will present a brief set of research-based ideas that, when successfully communicated by public health professionals, should have value in helping the public better understand the threat of climate change to human health and well-being, and in engaging them in behavioral and public policy solutions.