Climate change policy
Climate change, the increasing risk of natural disasters and ageing are some of the biggest issues facing humanity this century. But links between them are rarely made.
Older people are extremely vulnerable to the impacts of natural disasters and environmental change.
This vulnerability will only grow with climate change, population increase, migration, continued environmental degradation and unsustainable resource use.
They also have a unique role to play in sharing their knowledge and experience of coping with and managing changes in their environment. Older people can also play a significant role in preparing for disasters and helping to manage risks in their communities.
Despite these significant vulnerabilities and potential contributions, older people continue to be excluded from debates on climate change and disaster risk.
The difference we're determined to make
HelpAge is fighting to get older people's voices heard in the disaster risk reduction and climate change debate.
We're pushing for:
- Recognition and understanding of older people's unique vulnerabilities to disasters and longer term environmental and climate change.
- Older people to be included and take part in policies and programmes to adapt to increasing disaster risk and climate change.
- Mitigation and adaptation planning and policy making to include population ageing as an important factor.
- Recognition by governments and civil society of the importance of older people's knowledge, in partnership with modern scientific understanding.
- A better understanding of the impact climate change and economic migration is having on food security and older farmers.
