Ageing in changing climate

Population ageing and climate change are two of the most pressing issues nowadays, yet there has been little attention given to the relationship between the two. Climate change is expected to result in a rise in average temperature. Changing climate with accelerated warming of global temperatures is also directly attributed to human activity. It is at least 90 per cent certain that human emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) rather than natural variations are warming the planet's surface. Climate change is expected to have adverse effects on natural and human systems. The risk and harm resulting from climate change will not be evenly distributed. Older people, because of a range of physiological, psychological and socio-economic dispositions, are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events. The world is ageing rapidly and will continue to do so over the coming century. Growing old in the twenty-first century will bring a unique challenge of changing climate. The share of those aged 55-plus rose from 12 per cent of the world's population (approx. 300 million) in 1950 to 16 per cent in 2010 (1 billion). By 2050 there will be a dramatic increase in the number of over 55s who will represent nearly a quarter (just over 2.5 billion) of the global population. Though, older people are likely to be more vulnerable to the direct and indirect impacts from climate-related events, they can also be seen as potential contributors to this climate change. The over 50s contribute to the problem of climate change due to carbon emissions resulting from their level of consumption. The diversity of this group is reflected by their life stage and carbon footprint. The carbon footprint is the total amount of CO2 emissions which result directly and indirectly from the individual consumption of goods and services. Baby boomers (aged 50–64 years) have a higher carbon footprint compared to other age groups, approximately 13.5 tonnes, and emit 1.5 to 2.5 tonnes more CO2 per year than any other age group. A senior (aged 60-69 years) has a carbon footprint of approximately 12.1 tonnes of CO2 per year. Elders (aged 75 plus) represents 40 per cent of their carbon footprint. Their CO2 emissions from energy use in the home are 40 per cent higher than the national average. However, these groups of older people are more at risk from climate related threats due to an increased likelihood of deteriorating health that comes with age and reduced capacities for coping independently. The physical and social well-being of older people will be affected directly and indirectly from a changing climate. High temperature is more likely to result in mortality when combined with poor air quality which makes respiratory symptoms worse. They are often more susceptible to infectious disease, and as environments change, so will disease patterns and prevalence. Not only that, climate change is likely to influence economic output via the escalating the price of necessary commodities such as water, food and energy induced by supply shortages. The vulnerability of an older person to these effects of climate change will be determined by genetic disposition, pre-existing burden of disease or ill health, income, geographic location, family support systems, quality of public health infrastructure and access to relevant local information. Therefore, healthy lifestyles, coping skills, strong family and social ties, active interests and of course, savings and assets, will all assist in ensuring that people's reserves are and remain strong in later life. Along with, necessary actions should be taken to build adaptive capacity at a community level that can effectively reduce either the level of climate-induced exposures or reduce the sensitivities of older persons to them, thereby increasing overall resilience to climate change.