Abstract
BackgroundGlobal climate change impacts on human and natural systems are predicted to be severe, far reaching, and to affect the most physically and economically vulnerable disproportionately. Society can respond to these threats through two strategies: mitigation and adaptation. Industry, commerce, and government play indispensable roles in these actions but so do individuals, if they are receptive to behavior change. We explored whether the health frame can be used as a context to motivate behavioral reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation measures.MethodsIn 2008, we conducted a cross-sectional survey in the United States using random digit dialing. Personal relevance of climate change from health threats was explored with the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a conceptual frame and analyzed through logistic regressions and path analysis.ResultsOf 771 individuals surveyed, 81% (n = 622) acknowledged that climate change was occurring, and were aware of the associated ecologic and human health risks. Respondents reported reduced energy consumption if they believed climate change could affect their way of life (perceived susceptibility), Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.4 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.4 - 4.0), endanger their life (perceived severity), OR = 1.9 (95% CI: 1.1 - 3.1), or saw serious barriers to protecting themselves from climate change, OR = 2.1 (95% CI: 1.2 - 3.5). Perceived susceptibility had the strongest effect on reduced energy consumption, either directly or indirectly via perceived severity. Those that reported having the necessary information to prepare for climate change impacts were more likely to have an emergency kit OR = 2.1 (95% CI: 1.4 - 3.1) or plan, OR = 2.2 (95% CI: 1.5 -3.2) for their household, but also saw serious barriers to protecting themselves from climate change or climate variability, either by having an emergency kit OR = 1.6 (95% CI: 1.1 - 2.4) or an emergency plan OR = 1.5 (95%CI: 1.0 - 2.2).ConclusionsMotivation for voluntary mitigation is mostly dependent on perceived susceptibility to threats and severity of climate change or climate variability impacts, whereas adaptation is largely dependent on the availability of information relevant to climate change. Thus, the climate change discourse could be framed from a health perspective to motivate behaviour change.
Highlights
I would like to ask you what you think about Global Climate Change
We explored whether or not the Health Belief Model (HBM) could explain respondents’ propensity for autonomous adaptation behavior, and whether or not they had engaged in voluntary energy reduction to counteract global climate change
The majority of Americans (n = 622; 81%) in our survey were aware of climate change and believed that it was certainly taking place
Summary
I would like to ask you what you think about Global Climate Change. We are conducting a research study about this important issue, which has been discussed in the media a lot. Mitigation entails reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and augmentation in greenhouse gas sinks intended to minimize the extent of global warming [8] These steps include energy conservation by increasing the fuel efficiency of vehicles; switching to cleaner energy sources by changing business practices; or carbon sequestration through tropical reforestation. Autonomous (or spontaneous) adaptation is typically defined as responding to climatedriven changes in natural systems that occur naturally by private actors without intervention of public institutions [8]. It is usually the result of reactive responses to current climate impacts, rather than preventive measures. It is based on scientific information about projected impacts and is usually executed by government agencies [2,11]
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