UN Report Warns of Heightened Health Risks for Older Persons Due to Climate Change
Oru Leonard
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has released its 7th Frontiers Report, “The Weight of Time – Facing a new age of challenges for people and ecosystems,” highlighting the growing threat of climate change to older persons worldwide. The report emphasizes that extreme heat waves pose significant health risks, particularly for adults aged 65 and above living in urban areas of low- and middle-income countries.
Key findings reveals increased Mortality Rate caused by annual heat-related deaths among older persons have surged by an estimated 85% since the 1990s;
Older persons with chronic illnesses, limited mobility, or frailty are particularly susceptible to heat-related health issues, including respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases.
The report recommends redesigning cities to be pollution-free, climate-resilient, and accessible, with more green spaces and improved climate data access.
Additional climate change risks has been mentioned to include
ancient pathogens such as melting glaciers which could reactivate dormant microbes, increasing the risk of antimicrobial resistance;
Toxic chemical eesurgence like floods that may remobilize banned chemicals, posing risks to human health and food systems; Obsolete or unsafe dams threaten ecosystems and communities, with dam removals offering restoration opportunities for rivers and biodiversity.
The UNEP report urges governments, cities, and communities to prioritize climate resilience strategies, including:
– Better Urban Planning: Implementing community-based disaster risk management and improving access to climate information for older populations.
-Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Cutting emissions to slow down the decline of the cryosphere and mitigate the risks of ancient pathogens and toxic chemicals.
– Protecting Vulnerable Populations: Developing an international legally binding instrument on the human rights of older persons to add safety measures for those most exposed to climate change.
