Most Americans concerned climate change will harm their health – University of Hawaii System

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As climate change intensifies extreme weather and environmental conditions across the country, about 65% of U.S. adults are concerned that climate change will negatively affect their personal health, according to a new study published in Health Affairs Scholar.
The study, a collaboration between the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, analyzed responses from 6,888 adults who participated in the Health Information National Trends Survey.
The study’s co-authors include Alex Ortega, dean of the Thompson school, and Jim Stimpson, a professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Researchers found that trust in science, political views and personal environmental experiences shape how people perceive the health risks of climate change.
“This study shows that concern about the health impacts of climate change is driven less by who people are and more by how they think and what they experience,” said Ortega. “Trust in science, political perspectives and lived experiences like extreme weather shape whether people recognize climate change as a health threat, which in turn influences public support for environmental and health policies.”
How we communicate about climate and health affects everyone.
—Jim Stimpson
Individuals who reported higher trust in science were more likely to express concern about climate-related health impacts than those with lower levels of trust.
Political views also influenced responses. Compared to respondents who identified as politically liberal, moderates and conservatives were less likely to report concern about climate change harming their health.
Personal environmental experiences further shaped perceptions. Respondents who experienced extreme weather in their neighborhoods were more likely to express concern. Similarly, those worried about outdoor air quality were more likely to perceive climate-related health risks.
The findings suggest public health messaging should focus on building trust in science, reaching people across political perspectives and connecting climate change to local conditions people can directly experience. Researchers said that approach could help public health agencies and policymakers keep communities informed and engaged as climate policies evolve.
“How we communicate about climate and health affects everyone,” said Stimpson. “When messages don’t build trust or feel personally relevant, people are less likely to recognize these risks or support policies that protect public health.”
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