Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, Volume 3, Issue 1

Welcome to a further issue of International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, which is now in its third volume. Readers will find in this issue a further set of papers describing research, projects and initiatives on climate change management, with papers from Europe, Asia and Australia.

As part of this editorial, I would like to comment on the links between climate change and health. It is widely known that climate change is taking a toll on human health, and some leaders in the public health community have urged their colleagues to give voice to its health implications. Previous research has shown that Americans are only dimly aware of the health implications of climate change, yet the literature on issue framing suggests that providing a novel frame – such as human health – may be potentially useful in enhancing public engagement.

A recent research (details are available at: www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/299)included an exploratory study in the USA of people’s reactions to a public health-framed short essay on climate change. US adult respondents, stratified by six previously identified audience segments, read the essay and were asked to highlight in green or pink any portions of the essay they found “especially clear and helpful” or alternatively “especially confusing or unhelpful.” The research concluded that presentations about climate change that encourage people to consider its human health relevance appear likely to provide many Americans with a useful and engaging new frame of reference. Information about the potential health benefits of specific mitigation-related policy actions appears to be particularly compelling. The researchers therefore suggest that the public health community has an important perspective to share about climate change, a perspective that makes the problem more personally relevant, significant, and understandable to members of the public.

This journal will monitor progresses in respect of the connections between climate change and health and will inform its readers about any future developments.

Enjoy your reading!

Walter Leal Filho