False climate change narratives undermine health sector engagement

Health professionals are increasingly learning how climate change is harming their patients’ health1 and, unsurprisingly, most respondents to a 2020 multinational survey felt a responsibility to educate the public and policy makers.2 Many also reported, however, that they were not discussing the health risks of climate change because it is too politically controversial, peers would not be supportive, or it may be professionally risky. There is growing evidence that such concerns are unsupported by data about actual social divisions. For example, in the US there is far more public appetite—and more bipartisan consensus—for climate solutions than popular narratives of deep social divisions and entrenched polarisation suggest. This has direct implications for health advocacy. When people misperceive social and cultural norms, including falsely believing that others are dismissive or hostile to climate change information and action, they tend to remain silent.3People often equate political, institutional, and other systemic barriers with public…
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