Climate change is widening the gap in who stays connected

The study finds these impacts are not shared equally. People already facing disadvantage, such as those on low incomes, in poor-quality housing, living with disability, or from marginalised communities, are more exposed to climate risks and less able to stay connected. 

“Many face a double burden,” Dr Bower said. “They are more vulnerable to climate impacts because of where and how they live, and have fewer social and financial supports to draw on.”

As these pressures build, the researchers describe a widening “social health gap” between people who remain well connected and those who become increasingly isolated. 

Social connection is critical for climate action

Experts say the strength of social ties shapes how communities respond to climate change, with higher trust linked to greater support for climate action and collective responses.  

“When people feel disconnected, they are less likely to participate, cooperate or help each other,” Dr Bower said. “That limits our ability to respond to climate change in a meaningful way.”

The consequences are more visible during disasters, where people with weaker social ties are consistently more likely to die than those with strong support networks. 

During the 2021 British Columbia Heat Dome, which caused more than 600 deaths, people with schizophrenia – a group more likely to experience social isolation – accounted for around eight percent of heat-related deaths, highlighting how social isolation can compound risks. 

“If we ignore social health, we miss a major driver in who survives climate events and who doesn’t,” said Dr Bower. 

Social connection must be treated as climate infrastructure

Despite its importance, social health remains largely absent from climate policy. The researchers highlight that while governments invest heavily in infrastructure and emergency response, far less attention is given to the social systems that determine who receives help. 

With social disconnection already affecting up to one in four people globally and impacts on mortality comparable to smoking and obesity, the authors argue that social connection should be treated as essential climate infrastructure, embedded in housing, transport, urban design and public spaces. 

“If we keep treating climate change as a scientific or technical problem, climate policy will fail,” said Dr Bower. “Social health allows communities to survive and recover.”

Evidence from Australia’s Black Summer bushfires shows people with strong community ties experienced lower distress and greater resilience long after the fires, provided those connections existed before disaster struck.  

“There’s often a surge of togetherness immediately after an event, followed by exhaustion months later,” Dr Bower said. “The people who fare best are those who were connected beforehand.”

What can you do? 

While governments play a critical role, Dr Bower says individual actions can still make a difference. 

“Many people feel hesitant about reaching out, especially to people they don’t know well,” she said. “But research shows most people appreciate when someone takes that first step.

“That might mean saying hello to a neighbour, checking on someone nearby, or accepting an invitation rather than staying home.

“Taking the first step can feel uncomfortable,” she said. “But over time, those small connections add up and make communities stronger and more resilient.”

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