Creating Inclusive Solutions to Resilience: Ageing Populations and Climate Change

10 July 2025: As outlined in the Draft Political Declaration (Rev.2), adverse impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation are often exacerbated by inequality and are interrelated and pose challenges to social development. The new report by UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Frontiers 2025: The Weight of Time spotlights emerging issues linked to environmental factors and calls for early intervention to prevent them from becoming widespread challenges. Chapter 3 of the report, “Demographic transitions and ageing populations”, highlights the unique challenges faced by ageing populations, particularly in middle- and low-income countries, where environmental risks are exacerbated by climate change.

Improved sanitation, public health, and nutrition have increased life expectancy worldwide, while birth rates have been declining in most regions. This has caused a demographic shift in many countries, leading to an ageing population, and projections indicate that the share of the global population aged 65 will rise from 10 percent in 2024 to 16 per cent by 2050, with the number of those aged 80 and older nearly tripling (UNDESA 2024). This shift calls for inclusive consideration of ageing populations, who are more vulnerable to health risks posed by climate change.

Health Risks for the Older Population

While unhealthy environments, such as air pollution, smoke from wildfires, chemical contamination, extreme temperatures, and overheating, pose health threats to people of all ages, older populations are more likely to suffer from medical conditions and age-related health issues that make them more sensitive to environmental hazards. Ageing bodies have reduced capacity and immunity to combat adverse effects of environmental stressors.

Extreme conditions such as storms, floods, and wildfires also disproportionately affect older persons, with an increased risk of injury and mortality, especially those with chronic health conditions, those living in low-income and deprived communities, and those living in areas with high levels of multi-hazard risks. Older persons living in deprived neighbourhoods often lack social networks for support and resources. It can also increase the social burden on older persons, especially women, given their traditional caregiving and domestic responsibilities in many regions of the world.

Resilient Urban Planning and Infrastructure

The report underscores the importance of urban transformation into age-friendly, pollution-free, resilient and sustainable cities. For example, the 15-Minute City approach, which supports locating everyday destinations within a fifteen-minute walk or cycle, would facilitate the lives of the older population while reducing carbon emissions and air pollutants from cars.

Green infrastructure, a network of multi-functional green and blue features and spaces that cool urban areas, manage water, and store carbon, has also been widely adopted as a solution for liveable cities and climate resilience.

Ensuring Older Persons are Included in Solutions

While efforts such as 15-Minute Cities and green infrastructure offer innovative solutions to building resilience, it could pose negative consequences if not managed well. For example, the digital divide among older populations may affect their capacity to live in smart cities and receive timely information about possible extreme events. Additionally, environmental gentrification can occur when green projects attract investors and wealthy people to a formerly marginalized area, which would result in heightened socioeconomic inequalities due to rising property values and rents.

To ensure older persons are not left behind in decision-making processes, it is essential to integrate age-friendly approaches into future community-based actions to ensure the well-being of older residents. Understanding the unique challenges faced by older populations, socioeconomic constraints, gender-relevant issues, and climate consequences is critical for creating effective and inclusive policies and strategies.

It is also important to understand that older persons are active participants in resource conservation and environmental protection worldwide. Many older women, especially, are at the forefront of community resilience efforts. Leveraging their strengths and knowledge can contribute to more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities for all.

As the Second World Summit for Social Development approaches in November, considering the challenges older persons face—alongside other complex, large-scale issues like climate change—is essential to ensuring inclusive approaches and leaving no one behind in development.

Read the full report by UNEP here.