The role of the arts at the intersection of climate change and public Health: findings from an international survey

Abstract

Background Climate change poses significant and escalating threats to public health globally, affecting physical and mental health through direct impacts such as extreme weather events and indirect pathways including food insecurity and displacement. Despite growing recognition of culture and the arts as potential resources for health promotion and climate action, the specific role of the arts in addressing climate-related health impacts remains under-explored and suboptimally integrated into public health and environmental policy frameworks. Objective To investigate the role of the arts in addressing the health impacts of climate change from the perspective of experts working at the intersections of arts, health, and climate action. Methods A cross-sectional survey study using snowball sampling recruited participants with self-identified expertise at the intersections of arts, health, and climate change. The survey instrument collected qualitative data on perceived roles of arts-based interventions in this domain and barriers to their implementation. Responses were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key themes and patterns. Results Seventy-nine participants (N = 79) from diverse geographic regions globally completed the survey. Analysis revealed four meaningful roles that the arts can play in addressing climate-related health impacts: (1) bringing people together to build community and solidarity; (2) raising awareness and communicating complex information; (3) solving problems collectively; and (4) providing space for emotional processing and healing. Four primary barriers to expanding arts-based work were identified: (1) funding limitations; (2) other resource constraints; (3) collaboration challenges; and (4) lack of recognition and legitimacy. Conclusions The arts offer multiple pathways for addressing the health impacts of climate change, though structural barriers limit their implementation and scale. Findings have implications for policymakers, climate scientists, artists, and healthcare professionals seeking to integrate arts-based approaches into climate-health interventions and adaptation strategies.