Public perceptions of climate change and its health impacts in Greece: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Climate change is amplifying climate-sensitive health risks in the Mediterranean, yet public understanding of these threats remains poorly characterized. This study assessed how adults in Greece perceive the importance and health impacts of climate change at social levels and how perceptions differ by sociodemographic characteristics. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Greece in 2023, when the country was severely affected by severe floods and wildfires. Using proportional quota sampling, 406 adults completed a questionnaire on climate change beliefs, worry, perceived importance and perceived impacts on 13 climate-sensitive health outcomes. Associations with sex, age and education were examined using logistic regression. Almost all respondents were at least somewhat sure that climate change is occurring (95%) and reported being very or somewhat worried (93%). Women had higher odds than men of being very worried (adjusted odds ratio aOR = 2.63; 95% CI: 1.64–4.28) and perceiving moderate or great harm to themselves, their community, their country and future generations (aORs = 2.07–2.33). Higher education was associated with greater worry and perceived community harm, and postgraduate education with perceived harm to future generations. Older age was associated with higher perceived community harm in adjusted models. Regarding specific health outcomes, harm from wildfires (74.0%), harm from storms and floods (61.7%) and heat-related illness (50.9%) were most reported as already affected a great deal by climate change and expected to worsen in the future. In contrast, perceived impacts were more modest and uncertainty higher for vector-borne and foodborne diseases, healthcare disruption, hunger and violence or conflict. Concern about climate-related health impacts is high, especially among women and more educated adults. However, gaps in understanding of specific health risks persist. Targeted, equity-oriented climate–health communication, integrated into adaptation planning, is needed to strengthen understanding and support for public health action.