California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Climate Change and Public Health Focus Groups: Awareness of climate change as an important health issue and support for health-oriented climate action

Climate change threatens the health and wellbeing of all people, negatively affecting the life systems we depend on- air, water, food, shelter, and security. While considerable work has been done to increase public knowledge about the implications of climate change, few efforts have used a health frame to reach members of the public. The California Department of Public Health, Climate and Health Team in the Office of Health Equity is working to provide guidance to local health departments on ways to integrate the health impacts of climate change into their programs. This includes developing communications strategies and messages to increase awareness of climate change as an important health issue and expand health-oriented climate action efforts in California.

In spring of 2013 CDPH, the University of California, Davis and Harder+Company conducted six focus groups (in English and Spanish) in Fresno, LA, San Jose/Oakland with community health leaders. The focus groups explored the existing knowledge and attitudes about climate change as a public health issue among residents who were currently involved in community health endeavors ranging from chronic disease, asthma, physical activity, nutrition, built environment, emergency preparedness/response, and environmental justice.

This formative research provided a unique and in-depth exploration of the current perceptions of climate change among the sample population. Two key finding are: (1) Community health leaders in this study- though concerned- still do not have a clear understanding of the causes and effects of climate change and its health implications; and (2) Participants identified a need to leverage community voices and identify opportunities to coordinate efforts across different health issues to address existing inequities- in particular those worsened by climate change. Focus group findings will be discussed as well as opportunities that CDPH is considering as it develops strategies aimed to strengthen health-oriented climate protection efforts.