Abstract
A new generation of activists is calling for bold responses to the climate crisis. Although young people are motivated to act on climate issues, existing educational frameworks do not adequately prepare them by addressing the scope and complexity of the human health risks associated with climate change. We adapted the US government's climate literacy principles to propose a definition and corresponding set of elements for a concept we term climate and health literacy. We conducted a scoping review to assess how the peer-reviewed literature addresses these elements. Our analysis reveals a focus on training health professionals; more international than US domestic content; and limited information about data and models, fossil fuels, and equity. We propose developing a framework that builds on the elements to support a broader educational agenda that prepares students and future leaders to recognize the complex health ramifications of a changing climate.
Highlights
A new generation of activists is calling for bold responses to the climate crisis
Young people are motivated to act on climate issues, existing educational frameworks do not adequately prepare them by addressing the scope and complexity of the human health risks associated with climate change
Scoping Review After identifying candidate climate and health literacy elements, we explored whether growing knowledge about the health risks of the climate crisis is reflected in peer-reviewed literature at the intersection of climate change, education, and health
Summary
A new generation of activists is calling for bold responses to the climate crisis. young people are motivated to act on climate issues, existing educational frameworks do not adequately prepare them by addressing the scope and complexity of the human health risks associated with climate change. Climate change poses significant threats to human health by exacerbating risks from extreme heat, wildfires, coastal storms, ozone air pollution, and crop failures, among other hazards.[1] a growing volume of research highlights climate change impacts, research focused on corresponding health issues constitutes a small fraction of that work.[2] Despite research indicating that framing climate change as a health problem can motivate support for climate action, the lack of emphasis on this linkage persists.[3] Against this backdrop, youth climate activists are voicing concerns about the habitability of the planet by declaring climate change a danger to their welfare. Undergraduate and health professional students in the US are not adequately equipped as systems thinkers with interdisciplinary training to effectively navigate subjectmatter boundaries and develop integrated solu-
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