Chronological age is not an accurate an indicator of vulnerability, but various factors can exacerbate older people’s risk of experiencing the impact of climate change on their human rights. Photo: Thanasis Zovoilis / Getty Images In a ground-breaking ruling in April 2024, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Swiss Parliament had failed to protect older women against the impacts of global warming . The ruling demonstrated the urgent need to mobilize a global response to climate change to ensure the rights and well-being of all generations. Currently, however, there are no binding international agreements which safeguard the human rights of older people, and older individuals are rarely referenced in international climate accords. The impact of climate change on older people is dependent on the interaction of various factors: the likelihood and intensity of a climate hazard, an older person’s exposure to that hazard, and their susceptibility to further problems balanced with their coping capacities. Therefore, those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change are those with the least capacity to recover from the most serious extreme weather events, such as those with disabilities, low incomes, poor social ties, or limited autonomy. The threat to older people’s human rights is clear: rights to life, health, food, water, housing, work, culture and development are all at risk in a changing climate. By 2050, up to 250 million older adults may be exposed to dangerously high temperatures. Tropical cyclones disproportionately impact older people due to limited water supplies and increased risk of disease. Flooding brings similar problems, while also impacting on the mental health of older people who may become isolated and unable to seek help. Older adults are a vital resource for tackling climate change. Many are capable of providing financial support and hold economic and voting […]