Public Perception of Climate Change and Its Health Impacts in a Siberian Industrial Metropolis

Introduction: Climate literacy training through implementation of information programs is essential for active involvement of the civil society in climate change mitigation activities recognized as significant at the international level.

Objective: To describe how residents of a Siberian industrial metropolis perceive climate change and its health consequences.

Materials and Methods: Three types of data were used: (1) Yandex search query statistics from June 2024 to May 2025 by Internet users in Krasnoyarsk related to climate change; (2) results of an online survey conducted among Krasnoyarsk residents (n = 335, April 2025, weighted rolling sample); and (3) content analysis of three regional news portals.

Results: Most residents acknowledge climate changes in Krasnoyarsk over the past 5–10 years but do not perceive them as affecting their daily lives or health. Reflection on climate change is more common for older residents (Cramer’s V = 0.169, p < 0.05) and those with higher financial security (Cramer’s V = 0.242, p < 0.05). Women are more likely to believe that climate change will negatively affect them in the future than men (Cramer’s V = 0.196, p < 0.001). A subgroup viewing climate change positively has been also identified. Low public concern about climate problems determines limited information-seeking behavior with search activity mainly triggered by extreme weather events. Regional media coverage of climate issues is sporadic and lacks systematic attention to problems or solutions.

Conclusions: The population of the surveyed industrial metropolis is aware of the ongoing climate change but does not feel anxious about it, considering the consequences of climate dynamics to be remote. Risk communication strategies should emphasize local challenges and solutions, involve local opinion leaders, and demonstrate specific opportunities for public participation in developing adaptation strategies.

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