Why Physicians are on the Front Lines of Climate Change Care
In today’s polarized society, Americans trust few sources for information on climate change. One trusted source is physicians.
In fact, according to a joint study (PDF) conducted by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication, primary care physicians are the most trusted source for information on climate change issues related to health.
Moreover, this trust is largely consistent across all consumer segments regardless of current beliefs and attitudes toward climate change. This puts physicians in a unique position in society today to influence such sentiments.
Climate change is already having an impact on human health through extreme heat and weather events. It is also exacerbating pre-existing conditions such as asthma and allergies. This is especially true on days when conditions such as high ozone levels or pollen counts make symptoms worse.
https://www.greenbiz.com/article/why-physicians-are-front-lines-climate-change-care
Kevin Utting