Climate-sensitive Health Counselling

Scientists and healthcare professionals are increasingly recognizing the connection between personal health and the health of the planet. In some clinics, conversations about diet, exercise, and lifestyle now include the added context of environmental impact. Known as climate-sensitive health counselling, this approach frames everyday habits as opportunities to benefit both individual well-being and the climate.

A June 2025 study, published in The Lancet and conducted in Germany, explored how the public feels about this kind of messaging. Over 1,400 adults were shown versions of the same health advice framed three ways: focused solely on personal health, health plus environmental benefits, or combined with information about climate risks.

Researchers found that people responded most positively when the message centered on health alone. Messages that included the risks of climate change were the least favored. Individual values and beliefs around politics and climate change appeared to influence their receptivity to various framings. These findings support physicians’ earlier concerns that explicitly mentioning climate change during counselling could reduce patient receptiveness.

However, the study also showed that including climate risks alongside health and climate benefits did not significantly lower acceptability and may increase patients’ likelihood of recommending their doctors. This suggests more comprehensive climate-and-health messaging can be effective when communicated thoughtfully.

Overall, the results highlight the importance of patient-centered communication that adapts messages to individual values. While focusing solely on health benefits may maximize immediate acceptance, openly integrating climate considerations could encourage greater awareness and strengthen trust between patient and provider.