Assessing Support for Policy Actions With Co-Benefits for Climate Change and Physical Activity in Canada

Oral

Abstract Overview

Background: Calls to action addressing the interconnections between physical (in)activity and the climate crisis are increasing. The current study aimed to investigate public support for GAPPA policy actions that potentially have co-benefits for physical activity promotion and climate change mitigation.

Methods: In 2023, a survey through the Angus Reid Forum was completed by 2507 adults living in Canada. Binary logistic regressions were conducted. Separate models were created to reflect support or opposition to the 8 included policy items. Several covariates were included in the models including age, gender, political orientation, physical activity levels, income, urbanicity climate anxiety, and attitudes surrounding physical activity and climate change. The data were weighted to reflect the gender, age, and regional composition of the country.

Results: Most individuals living in Canada strongly or moderately supported all actions (ranging from 71% to 85%). Meeting the physical activity guidelines, higher self-reported income, and scoring high on personal experience of climate change were associated with higher odds of supporting the policy actions related to climate actions. Political orientation was found to have a consistent and strong association with policy support. Individuals identifying as center or conservative-leaning were more likely to oppose the policies than those identifying as liberal.

Conclusions: Most adults living in Canada support policies that align with the recommended policy actions related to physical activity and climate change. National campaigns enhancing awareness and understanding of the bidirectional relationship between physical activity and climate change are warranted, and these should consider the consistent demographic differences (e.g., gender, age, and political orientation) seen in public support for physical activity-related policies.

Funding: MJF was supported by a Mitacs Accelerate award.

Additional Authors

Name: Matthew Fagan
Affiliation: University of British Columbia
Presenting Author: no
Name: Leigh Vanderloo
Affiliation: ParticipACTION
Presenting Author: no
Name: Ananya Banerjee
Affiliation: McGill University
Presenting Author: no
Name: Leah Ferguson
Affiliation: University of Saskatchewan
Presenting Author: no
Name: Eun-Young Lee
Affiliation: Queen’s University
Presenting Author: no
Name: Norm O’Reilly
Affiliation: University of Maine
Presenting Author: no
Name: Ryan Rhodes
Affiliation: University of Victoria
Presenting Author: no
Name: John Spence
Affiliation: University of Alberta
Presenting Author: no
Name: Mark Tremblay
Affiliation: Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute
Presenting Author: no

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Information

Study Type: Policy (e.g. policy or guideline development)
Subtheme: Co-benefits/ non-health benefits/ SDGs
Population Group: Adults
Setting: Whole System

Submitting Author

Guy Faulkner
Professor
University of British Columbia
Canada

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