Title : Cooking up a catastrophe: Raising eu consumer awareness of health impacts of gas cooking
Abstract:
A growing evidence-base illustrates the significant health implications of gas cooking – yet many European households continue to cook on gas cooktops, unaware of the active risks to members of the household. Individuals exposed to indoor air pollution resulting from household gas combustion risk impacts to cardiovascular, respiratory, circulatory, and reproductive health. Additionally, children are at heighted risk for health consequences – including 600,000 children across Europe who suffer from asthma as a result of gas cooking exposure.
To raise consumer awareness of the negative health implications of gas appliance usage in homes and prompt support for policy action, CLASP and partners across the EU leveraged compelling evidence in favour of an electric cooking phase out. We utilized consumer perception testing in 5 countries across Europe to gather objective information on household cooking practices, preferences, and willingness to deviate from legacy cooking method. We utilized this information to shape consumer accessible messages that grounded campaigns across 8 European countries. The campaigns culminated in collective public action, including participation in a relevant policy comment period and a pan-European petition.
This paper will offer insights into consumer perceptions of cooking appliances, how we leveraged public opinion data to craft strategic messages, lessons learned from pan-European campaign implementation, and recommendations for future health focused decarbonization communication efforts.
Audience Take Away
- How to leverage survey data to craft effective campaign messaging
- Best practices regional for consumer awareness campaigns
- How to translate technical data into compelling and digestible information for the public
- Lessons in motivating consumer behavior changes through regionally/nationally informed messaging
