… As communication scientists, we study—among other things—how to mount science-based public communication campaigns for the benefit of the publics’ health and wellbeing. In a series of studies conducted over the past several years, we have sought to understand how Americans respond to information about the health effects of climate change and air pollution caused by burning fossil fuels. What we learned is that informing people about these health harms associated with burning fossil fuels—and about the health benefits associated with clean energy—is a compelling and effective way to engage Americans across the political spectrum and increase support for clean energy and other climate solutions.
Our initial research revealed that most Americans are unable to name a single way that climate change harms our health, or to identify which groups of people are most vulnerable. CONT.
Ed Maibach & John Kotcher (George Mason U.), Global Climate Action Summit