Effectively Communicating the Public Health Implications of Climate Change

This talk will based on a newly released climate change communication primer for public health professionals titled: Conveying the Human Health Implications of Climate Change. I will present three compelling reason why public health officials should engage in communicating the human side of climate change: (1) human health is already being harmed by climate change; (2) climate change public engagement efforts to date have largely ignored the human health consequences, focusing instead on environmental consequences, and bringing these human health consequences to light can help heighten public engagement in the issue; and (3) many of the actions recommended to limit and adapt to climate change will have positive health consequences irrespective of climate change, and members of the public, regardless of their position on climate change, find this to be a compelling reason to move forward with some of these recommended actions. I will also suggest a range of audiences, messages, and communication tactics by which to successfully communicate the public health implications of climate change.