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Scope: Analysis of 139 studies on policy-facing communication strategies for health, climate, and their intersection. Key gaps: Limited experimental evidence, dominance of high-income contexts (69% of studies), and scarce research on climate-health links (only 6% of studies).

Top Evidence-Based Strategies:

1. Tailor messages to audience values/policy priorities (35% of studies).

2. Share concise, timely evidence—especially economic data (28%).

3. Build coalitions & trusted relationships (19% each) to amplify impact.

4. Use clear, non-technical language (16%) and participatory research (12%).

5. Leverage credible messengers (e.g., health professionals, local constituents).

Practical Guidance for Implementation

Message Design:

• Prioritize economic framing (e.g., healthcare savings from clean energy).

• Avoid over-reliance on individual stories—experiments show this can shift blame to individuals rather than systemic solutions.

• Combine data with narratives; policymakers prefer briefs that balance evidence and relatable examples.

Relationship Building:

• Engage early via dialogues, not one-way briefings.

• Identify policy champions (e.g., sympathetic legislators) and empower them with evidence.

• Anticipate opposition tactics (e.g., industry lobbying) and pre-prepare rebuttals.

Systemic Approach:

• Coordinate across sectors (health, environment, finance) to align messaging.

• Time outreach to policy windows (e.g., post-disaster, budget cycles).

Applications in Policy Contexts

• LMIC Adaptation: Partner with local stakeholders to co-create metrics (e.g., heat-health vulnerability indices).

• Climate-Health Synergies: Frame decarbonization as health investment (e.g., air pollution reduction saves lives).

• Evaluation: Track engagement via policy brief views, legislative language adoption, or social media amplification.