Older People and Climate Change

Older people are both impacted by and active in working for global climate justice. Older people can have a powerful voice when calling for change and supporting mitigation and adaptation activities. Many older people have the experience to know what communities will face if the climate crisis is not adequately addressed. They have directly felt the consequences of climate change in their daily lives and have witnessed significant changes on the planet in their lifetimes.

They know the impact that continued climate change will have on their families and their communities. Two-thirds of the world’s older people also live in low- and middle-income countries where there is a higher risk of climate-related disasters – like floods, hurricanes, and tropical storms – and the impact of such disasters often disproportionately hits older people.