Opinion: Make older people visible in the climate debate

When climate crises hit, it is often older people who bear the heaviest burden, yet the impact of climate change on the older population is frequently overlooked in climate discussions. In the lead-up to the U.N. climate summit COP 28, HelpAge International has published a new report that casts new light on the intersection between population aging and the climate crisis. The changing climate and its impacts around the world are recognized as fact but nothing is yet being done to address the overlap between the two. A historic milestone was passed in 2018 when, for the first time in history, people aged 65 and over around the world outnumbered those under 5 years of age. But this is yet to be reflected in climate mitigation and adaptation plans and increases the vulnerability of older people when climate-related crises hit — such as floods, droughts, air pollution, tropical cyclones, and extreme weather events. When the floods overwhelmed Pakistan in 2002, Mai Safoora, a 73-year-old resident of Qadan Mashi village, was like thousands of others made homeless by the continuous heavy rain. Living alone in a makeshift shelter, with cholera on the rise, she became weaker and developed a fever, and the lack of medical facilities forced Mai to rely on homemade remedies. Mai is not an unusual case and around the world, millions of older people face similar harsh realities. Extreme weather events often disrupt the health care services on which many rely, particularly older people with preexisting health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. During extreme heat, for example, their lower ability to self-regulate their body temperature puts them at risk, and likewise for those facing extreme cold without access to heating. Both can have potentially fatal consequences. Over the past two decades, global heat-related deaths among those aged 65 and over have nearly doubled. The 2022 European summer saw 9,226 heat-related deaths among individuals aged 65–79 years, escalating to 36,848 deaths for those aged 80 and over. This underlines the urgency of recognizing that a hotter world is jeopardizing the lives of older people — an issue that barely features in climate talks. The intersection between climate change and global aging emphasizes the importance of adopting a more comprehensive approach. Disregarding the rapidly aging world undermines the resilience and well-being of a significant and expanding segment of the global population. It is crucial that we broaden our perspective and include the unique considerations of the aging demographic to forge a more just and sustainable path in the face of our changing climate. “The failure to include older people in the climate debate also means that an untapped resource of knowledge is being missed.” --— Effective climate justice advocacy also requires recognizing intergenerational dimensions. Climate change will affect family structures, with multiple shocks on income, assets, health, and security, thereby reducing the ability to care for older people. This scenario calls for new aging policies that assess the nature of climate and other environmental risks to older people’s rights and well-being. A multifaceted approach can be achieved by incorporating global aging as a key trend in climate scenarios and analyses. This should include future scientific climate reports such as the seventh Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessment report and the United Nations Environment Programme mitigation and adaptation gap reports. This is not just about protecting the rights of today's older generation but also about safeguarding future generations who are growing older as the planet warms up. Embracing a changing climate and enabling the full participation of everyone, no matter their age, in the transition to a low-carbon society are essential components of an inclusive approach. The failure to include older people in the climate debate also means that an untapped resource of knowledge is being missed. Older people can contribute to the climate movement by sharing their lifelong experiences. They have witnessed how climate has evolved throughout their lives, providing a unique perspective and a historical lens to understand the evolution of climate change. They are living repositories of information, and their knowledge and firsthand accounts offer crucial insights that should be playing a significant role in contributing to the climate change debate. Their perspectives could help shape informed, inclusive, and effective strategies for a sustainable future. While the world is slowly waking up to the threat posed by climate change, it feels like it is simultaneously moving blindly toward the consequences of an increasingly aging population. The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated, and the escalating realities are creating a dual crisis that can no longer be passively ignored. According to the 2015 Paris Agreement, the world needs to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, at which point 1 in 5 people will be over the age of 60. If we want to prevent the risk of waking up to a future where the convergence of these two challenges is overwhelming, this year’s COP must address the challenges created by a global aging population. Action now could help avoid a future crisis on a scale far greater than is currently being addressed. We must challenge ageism in the climate movement and start to include the voices of today's older people in discussions for the benefit of tomorrow.