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Americans are connecting climate change to health risks more than ever

Public awareness of climate-related health risks is rising, with more Americans recognizing the dangers of extreme heat, pollution, and respiratory issues, even as the federal government cuts funding for climate and health research.

Keerti Gopal reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

A survey from Yale and George Mason University found that 39% of Americans believe climate change is harming their health, an 8% increase since 2014.
Trust in scientists, physicians, and public health agencies for climate-related health information has grown, despite declining trust in health professionals overall since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Trump administration has proposed major cuts to climate research funding and environmental regulations, even as public concern over climate-related health risks increases.

Key quote:

“The fact that we’re seeing such a strong uptick in public understanding that climate change is harming the health of Americans, we fundamentally are optimistic that that will build the public will for climate action.”

— Edward Maibach, director of GMU’s Center for Climate Change Communication and principal investigator on the survey

Why this matters:

Climate change is already affecting public health in measurable ways. Extreme heat, worsening air quality, and an increase in vector-borne diseases disproportionately impact vulnerable communities, including low-income populations, children, and the elderly. As public awareness grows, so does the potential for policy changes, yet government action remains uncertain. Meanwhile, misinformation about clean energy’s health effects continues to circulate, further complicating the conversation.

Learn more: Summer heat risks escalating in the US

insideclimatenews.org

A residential garbage can overflows with plastic bottles and other waste.

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New pricing system helps small town slash its garbage output

When Plympton, Massachusetts started charging by the bag for trash, it nearly halved the town’s garbage — and saved thousands of dollars in the process.

Tik Root reports for Grist.

In short:

Plympton cut its annual trash output from 640 to 335 tons after shifting from a flat-fee dump sticker to a “pay-as-you-throw” model charging per bag.
The new pricing system incentivized recycling and composting, saving the town about $65,000 a year and reducing landfill-related emissions.
Nearly half of Massachusetts municipalities now use PAYT, and experts say volume-based pricing drives waste reduction without unfairly burdening small or low-income households.

Key quote:

“We found that demand for waste disposal was really responsive to price. If you raise the price of trash, people are going to find ways to not put as much out at the curb.”

— John Halstead, retired professor of environmental economics at the University of New Hampshire and an author of a study on New Hampshire's pay-as-you-throw model

Why this matters:

Less landfill use means fewer toxics in the air and water, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and more recycled materials in circulation. Plympton’s story shows that smart policy doesn’t have to be punitive or complicated — it just has to make people see the cost of their choices, and let common sense do the rest.

How a government feud threatens decades of scientific progress

The Trump administration’s move to cut off $2.6 billion in federal research funding to Harvard has upended a vital engine of American science, with ripple effects that reach far beyond a single university.

Emily Badger, Aatish Bhatia, and Ethan Singer report for The New York Times.

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