Conveying the Human Implications of Climate Change

The document argues that public health professionals have an ethical obligation to communicate the health risks of climate change, as there is a significant disconnect between professional knowledge and public awareness. It recommends framing climate change as a human health problem rather than an environmental one, localizing the issue to make it concrete, and emphasizing 'win-win' health co-benefits of mitigation actions. The guide identifies key target audiences, including journalists, government decision-makers, and vulnerable populations, and suggests specific outreach methods such as using opinion leaders, issuing local scientific reports, and testifying at government hearings.

• Climate change poses a severe threat to global public health through direct effects like rising temperatures and severe weather, and indirect effects such as the increased range and infectivity of vector-borne diseases and water contamination from sewage overflows.
• In the United States, climate change is already causing harm, with heat being the leading cause of weather-related deaths. Projections suggest that by the 2090s, annual heat-related deaths in Los Angeles could increase five to seven times compared to a 1990s baseline.
• There is a significant gap between the awareness of public health officials and the general public; while a majority of local health officers recognize the risks, the public is largely unaware that climate change threatens their own health or that of their community.
• Framing climate change as a human health issue rather than an environmental problem is more effective at engaging a broader cross-section of the American public by linking the issue to deeply held values and familiar health risks like asthma.
• Localizing the issue is critical because most Americans perceive climate change as geographically and temporally distant. People are more likely to act on risks perceived as 'close to home' than on global abstractions.
• Emphasizing 'win-win' co-benefits—immediate health improvements resulting from climate actions, such as reduced obesity from increased walking and cycling—can motivate support even among those unconvinced that climate change is occurring.
• The American public is divided into six distinct segments regarding climate change (the 'Six Americas'). Those in the middle of the continuum—the Cautious and Disengaged—are particularly interested in learning about the specific harms global warming will cause.
• Effective communication strategies for health departments include recruiting informal opinion leaders, utilizing social media to bridge news coverage and community dialogue, and testifying at city or county council meetings.

APA

Maibach, E., Nisbet, M., & Weathers, M. (2011). Conveying the Human Implications of Climate Change. Center for Climate Change Communication. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Climate-Communication-Primer-for-Public-Health-Professionals-1.pdf

Chicago

Maibach, Edward, Matthew Nisbet, and Melinda Weathers. Conveying the Human Implications of Climate Change. Center for Climate Change Communication, 2011. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Climate-Communication-Primer-for-Public-Health-Professionals-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Maibach |first1=Edward |last2=Nisbet |first2=Matthew |last3=Weathers |first3=Melinda |title=Conveying the Human Implications of Climate Change |publisher=Center for Climate Change Communication |date=2011 |url=https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Climate-Communication-Primer-for-Public-Health-Professionals-1.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{maibach2011conveying, author = {Maibach, Edward and Nisbet, Matthew and Weathers, Melinda}, title = {{Conveying the Human Implications of Climate Change}}, institution = {Center for Climate Change Communication}, year = {2011}, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Climate-Communication-Primer-for-Public-Health-Professionals-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }