Rediscovering climate gerontology: an era for older adults to contribute more to climate change

Abstract

In the wake of escalating climate challenges, the role of diverse specific groups in climate action has gained unprecedented attention. Among these groups, older adults, often overlooked, present a unique potential in the realm of climate action. The concept of climate gerontology, first introduced by Haq and Gutman in 2014, encapsulates this intersection of gerontology and climate change. However, despite its initial proposal, the field has not fully developed its potential. This article aims to revisit and expand the concept of climate gerontology, arguing for a more active and recognized contribution of older people in climate-change initiatives.

Keywords:

• Climate change
• aging
• climate gerontology
• climate action
• older adults

Introduction

Population aging is a significant challenge for sustainable socio-economic development, signifying not only a reduced labor supply for economic growth but also an increased risk of imbalance about intangible care. The expanding aged population significantly impacts society, economy, and health. The United Nations predicts that by 2050, the global population aged 60 and above will double, with those over 65 expected to rise from 10% in 2022 to 16% in 2050. Concurrently, climate change, particularly global warming exacerbated by human activities, is another significant challenge (Asadnabizadeh 2022), because population changes directly or indirectly impact energy consumption and climate change (Estiri and Zagheni 2019). Aging increases vulnerability, with older adults at a higher risk of health issues due to rising temperatures (Wondmagegn et al. 2019). Thus, population aging and climate change are interconnected global issues, where human activities affect climate change, which in turn directly impacts human welfare, especially for the older adults, children, and people with disabilities, presenting a dual challenge for 21st-century societal development.

In response, climate gerontology, an emerging interdisciplinary field proposed by Haq and Gutman in 2014, emphasizes the multifaceted impact of climate change on the older adults (Haq and Gutman 2014). It considers the rapid increase in the number of older adults, the rise in climate-related extreme weather events, and the deepening understanding of climate change’s impact on human existence. Its main contribution lies in directing attention to the intersection of older adults’ adaptability to climate (Dabelko-Schoeny et al. 2023). Discussing climate adaptability often leads to sustainable development perspectives, as intergenerational welfare is central to sustainability. Sustainable development is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Karacaoglu et al. 2019), highlighting the importance of providing welfare and protection across age groups. Ensuring the rights and welfare of older adults and enhancing their life quality and happiness in a complex and changing environment is an urgent issue. Proactive aging is now established as the leading global policy strategy in response to population aging (Walker 2014) and in the field of climate change the active role of older adults should also be considered rather than simply assessing how they would be affected. As part of the need to achieve active aging, it is important to revisit the concept of climate gerontology and identify how to shift the focus from the vulnerability of older adults to their potential as key agents in climate action. The growing aged population could become a positive force in addressing climate change (Frumkin et al. 2012), with their wealth of knowledge and experience playing a crucial role in advancing climate-change initiatives, green living, and the transition to a low-carbon society. In this Commentary, we want to further explore the potential of older adults in climate action and empowering societal green transformation, seeking a sustainable path for an aging world.

Call of climate action: importance and challenges of climate-action engagement

Climate change presents an existential threat, impacting ecosystems and human societies globally and generating various impacts on human well-being, and in particular adverse outcomes with respect to population health. The effect of hot weather on health is quickly becoming a global public health challenge in the 21st century, reflected in increasing concerns about climate change and severe heatwaves in the past decades (Hajat et al. 2010; Ige-Elegbede et al. 2023). Its effects range beyond extreme weather events and also include the loss of biodiversity. As the health of ecosystems is intrinsically tied to human quality of life, climate change disrupts these systems, affecting services like clean air, water, and food security. If no additional actions are taken, there will be visible increases in poverty and inequities as a consequence of climate change (Haines and Ebi 2019), While climate action will incur some additional costs of transition, it can also promote and enhance the building of prosperous, equitable, and peaceful societies (Fuso Nerini et al. 2019). Currently, the reality is that the impacts of climate change are escalating and overcoming these challenges requires a collective and active response from all sectors of society.

Despite the recognized urgency, effective climate action is hindered by a myriad of challenges. Political, economic, and social barriers often impede the implementation of climate policies. Additionally, the complexities of global coordination and the diverse interests of stakeholders make unified action challenging, especially the contributions from underrepresented groups including older adults. One study has pointed out that people underestimate the true level of concern about climate change (Sparkman et al. 2022). Even if there are many individuals who want to participate in climate action, this subjective negative perception still reduces their enthusiasm in the future. Another major dilemma is that older people are viewed as not friendly to climate policy but instead prefer public spending through pension systems (Andor et al. 2018). Further, empirical research suggests that older people are less concerned about climate change and may not support climate-friendly public policies (Bohr 2017; Albalate et al. 2023). This is a reflection of the problem, namely that older people have not yet made their engagement in climate action part of their legacy and intergenerational well-being. But it is not unbreakable, even if a considerable proportion of older adults shows low willingness to act on environmental issues, some studies have pointed out that resilient aged groups will pay attention to environmental information, then proactively adapt and take action (Sánchez-González and Chávez-Alvarado 2016). Overall, the lack of attention to the intersection between climate change and older adults makes it difficult to fully disentangle older adults’ attitudes toward climate change and to measure their contributions to climate action.

There is a need for strategies that can navigate these barriers and foster effective climate engagement whether it is drawing the attention of older people to climate change or promoting their contribution to climate action. Addressing the challenges of enhanced participation in climate initiatives requires a multidisciplinary and inclusive approach. Collaboration across sectors and age groups is essential for developing strategies that are both effective and equitable. Their inclusion not only ensures equity but also enhances the effectiveness of climate action. Inclusive climate action that engages different social groups, including older people, can promote equitable and effective solutions to climate problems.

The potential of older adults’ engagement in climate action: unconventional roles and unique contributions

Before the concept of climate gerontology was constructed as a specific research area, a considerable amount of research had already recognized that the 21st century would experience major changes in population size, age structure, and family composition. These demographic shifts have spurred numerous studies on climate change and greenhouse gas-emissions scenarios (MacKellar et al. 1998; Antal and Bhutani 2023). Demographers have found that average emissions increase with age, peaking in the 60s before declining (Zagheni 2011). Some studies treat alternative population growth trajectories as external factors, noting the significant impact of urbanization on emissions, especially in developing countries like China and India. In these nations, urbanization may increase emissions by over 25% from 2000 to 2100. In contrast, aging populations in industrialized countries could lead to a reduction of up to 20% in emissions by 2100 (O’Neill et al. 2010). Older adults are not only more vulnerable when facing climate risks, but also the climate risks posed by aging are thought to be underestimated (Frumkin et al. 2012; Harrington and Otto 2023). This situation puts older people at risk of being stigmatized in the face of the challenges of climate change, and their potential to participate in climate action tends to be overlooked by policymakers and society more generally.

The engagement of older adults in climate action embodies a largely untapped resource, offering unconventional roles and unique contributions. Societal perceptions, particularly those influenced by ageist attitudes, see older people as disengaged from climate action or as lacking in knowledge about climate change (Ayalon et al. 2022; Guo et al. 2022). But when we talk about the cognitive abilities and attitudes and behaviors of older adults, we have to consider these issues from an inter-generational perspective. The current and future elderly people are significantly different from groups in the past. Active aging serves as a global framework that recognizes ongoing improvements in the welfare and social participation of older adults. While there are certainly inequalities between different nations and regions, significant enhancements in the conditions of older adults are observable universally and across diverse geographical contexts. More and more seniors are well-educated, adept at learning, able to skillfully participate in various lives in the advanced information era, and have vibrant lifestyles and consumption habits. This demographic, often perceived as passive recipients of climate-change policy, holds the potential to actively shape climate initiatives. Their life experiences, historical knowledge, and unique perspectives make them invaluable in the realm of climate advocacy and education.

Older people are often treated with respect and dignity and are often thought as opinion leaders in their families and communities, which is why they have importance in terms of a primary role in climate action. Benefiting from their life experiences, older people’s abundant knowledge about daily life is another unique value in participating in climate action. Older adults vary in their climate-change literacy but share common efforts to promote environmentally sustainable development and community well-being (Salma et al. 2022). Older adults possess a wealth of knowledge about historical environmental changes and traditional practices, providing a longer-term perspective often missing in current climate debates. Their experiences can inform sustainable practices, bridging the gap between past and present approaches to environmental stewardship.

Daily living by households is the basic unit of carbon consumption. Regardless of family size, people mainly purchase and consume coal, natural gas, electricity, and other energy sources for the purposes of domestic living which usually happens at home (Estiri and Zagheni 2019). The household is also the primary place for residents to participate in climate action. Regular turnover of researchers and students in different universities makes it possible to disseminate climate knowledge and translate it into social action (Adshead et al. 2023). Among family members, older adults have unique advantages. The close social connections and intergenerational inheritance allow seniors to pass their knowledge on climate action and green production to the next generation more efficiently.

Beyond the family, community engagement is another area where older adults can make a significant contribution in climate action. Strategies to mobilize older adults into community service have proven to be effective in promoting their health and well-being (Black et al. 2015). Like time banking, as a platform for community-based mutual aid and indirect reciprocity, older adults are often the most active members because they have a surplus of time to devote to such activities (Zhang et al. 2021). Moreover, their role as community leaders allows them to influence societal attitudes toward climate change, particularly in cultures where age is equated with wisdom and respect. The involvement of older adults in local environmental projects such as community gardening, conservation efforts, and local advocacy not only fosters environmentally friendly behavior but also enhances community resilience. Their participation in these initiatives can also inspire intergenerational collaboration, creating opportunities for knowledge transfer and shared learning.

A notable case from Italy demonstrates the benefits to older people of participating in environmental activities. The municipal government of the city of Ancona in Italy launched a citizen environmental protection project in 2017 to attract the participation of senior citizens over 65 years old who were in good health and had good mobility. This citizen environmental service project was initiated by a voluntary association for elderly people with extensive experience in such services (Gagliardi et al. 2020). The project provides older participants with the opportunity to experience outdoor activities and engage in sustainable gardening practices in two city parks, and its data shows that participation in this project related to environmental restoration and social activities has improved physical and mental health and generated social benefits for older adults.

Another case from Elders Climate Action (ECA) in the United States demonstrates the vitality of older people in the field of climate action. Since 2014, ECA has been organizing senior events around environmental and social justice causes, mobilizing seniors across the country to address climate change (Lent 2022). ECA is committed to leveraging the care, wisdom, and power of numbers of older adults to promote strong programs. In policy and decision-making, older adults could also play an important role. With their voting power and potential to influence public opinion, they can advocate for climate policies that address both current and future needs. Their ability to act as a bridge between generations in policy discussions can facilitate a more inclusive approach to climate solutions, ensuring that policies are reflective of diverse perspectives and needs.

However, engaging older adults in climate action is not without challenges. Barriers such as ageism, limited access to resources, and physical constraints can hinder their participation. In the field of climate change, ageism has long been an underppreciated topic because climate-change actions are often considered to be led and initiated by youth activists, but older adults are more likely to reduce their resource consumption and to contribute to the sustainable development of future generations (Sutter et al. 2022). People are often concerned about the adverse health effects of climate change on older members of their families and these negative perceptions of older adults’ participation in climate action may be a motivator for young people to participate in climate actions (Ayalon and Roy 2023). Older adults are often considered an underrepresented population in various fields, also in the areas of climate adaptation and climate action. For example, necessary physical knowledge and tools, cognitive, social, and economic resources are important basic needs for older adults, who often do not know where to obtain these resources to protect and support themselves during and after extreme weather events (Gamble et al. 2013; McDermott-Levy et al. 2019). In addition, some older adults think that they lack sufficient professional knowledge about environmental issues and do not know where to learn about opportunities where they can participate (such as environmental volunteering) (Pillemer and Filiberto 2017), so they face the challenge of a “resources gap” in climate action.

Morever, the aging process is often accompanied by frailty and a decline in physical activity, as employers and older workers themselves express concerns about occupational health due to declining physical and cognitive abilities (Kooij et al. 2020). When older people become less active because of health issues, it can restrict their participation in environmental activities (Rhoades et al. 2017; Enssle and Kabisch 2020) and older people would need to adapt to these conditions before they could participate in climate action. Addressing these challenges requires targeted strategies to enable their involvement. Studies on older people’s social participation and climate change has not been systematically integrated in the past, and this is an issue that calls out for attention so as to add new knowledge and perspectives to climate gerontology to enhance the value of it as a specific field in academia for research and practice.

Conclusion: emerging strategies in neo-climate gerontology

As we approach the conclusion of our exploration into climate gerontology, it is evident that older adults hold a unique and pivotal role in the landscape of climate action. Their involvement, marked by a blend of experience, wisdom, and historical perspective, offers invaluable contributions to both local and global environmental initiatives. This journey through various aspects of climate change and the participation of older adults has illuminated the potential of this demographic to contribute meaningfully to sustainable practices and policies. It is time to emphasize the renewed understanding and importance of climate gerontology, highlighting how the experiences and perspectives of older adults are crucial in addressing climate change. The strategies for engaging older adults in climate action need to be multifaceted and inclusive, such as accessible platforms for participation, tailored communication methods, and acknowledgment of their contributions. Enhancing the climate adaptability of older adults and encouraging their participation in climate action will face more opportunities and challenges, revealing greater potential and prospects. At the societal level, public awareness, and social atmospheres, such as media promotion, social organizations, and volunteer activities, can provide support and social motivation for older adults’ involvement in climate action.

Such initiatives are important for reducing age discrimination in relation to climate action. For example, television and social media could be more creatively used to spread recognition of older adults’ engagement in climate action and this publicity could help to change negative perceptions of older persons among young people. On the individual level, knowledge accumulation and skill mastery, through education and training, online learning, and practical exercises, could equip older adults to ready themselves to take climate action. To address the lack of expertise mentioned earlier, combining climate change with the University of the Third Age – also referred to as “lifelong learning institutes” that cater primarily to older adults and offer a wide range of courses covering both academic subjects and more leisurely pursuits – is a good path to take, while this may not have been a major component in past discussions of climate gerontology (Formosa 2012). With the imminent requirements to address climate change, there is a need to consider how the University of the Third Age can serve an educational function to provide older adults with specialized knowledge on climate action, in addition to the traditional perspectives of proactive aging. In addition, some older people who are themselves experienced in environmentalism can contribute uniquely by sharing their stories and insights, adapting teaching skills, guiding younger generations, participating in volunteer services, offering opinions and advice to influence policy, and creating works that showcase their creativity and artistry. While climate gerontology has focused in the past on the adverse effects of climate change on health outcomes for older adults, it is noted that health reasons can also influence older adults’ participation in climate action. It may be challenging to encourage older adults to participate in climate action without considering their health limitations but promoting the benefits of engagement, tailored to their specific needs such as accessibility and activities suitable for their physical health, can be valuable. This approach has proven effective in attracting older adults to participate in other kinds of social activities (Pillemer et al. 2022).

Older adults should not be seen as passive victims or irrelevant bystanders, but as active participants or important collaborators. In facing climate change, they can do much, provided the willingness, confidence, and motivation. From grassroots movements to high-level policymaking, their voices and insights can guide more effective and compassionate environmental strategies. It is crucial for policymakers and community leaders to recognize and harness this potential, breaking down barriers to participation and fostering environments where the experience of age is seen as an asset rather than a limitation.

Looking ahead, the field of climate gerontology presents a fertile ground for innovative research and action. Rethinking climate gerontology from the perspective of active aging calls for a paradigm shift in how we view the roles of older adults in the context of climate change. As the demographic landscape continues to evolve, so too must our approaches to climate action, ensuring that these measures are reflective of and responsive to the needs and capabilities of all age groups. Although aging is sometimes considered to be an increasingly conservative process, which may make aged individuals pay more attention to issues related to interests of their own specific life cycle, some studies have also demonstrated that with the intense discussion of global climate issues, life cycle effects may give way to generational replacement effects, whereby each new cohort is more likely to vote for an environment-oriented party than those born earlier (Lichtin et al. 2023). However, how life cycle effects and generational replacement effects respectively dominate older adults’ attitudes toward climate action, it is still an empirical question that has not received adequate attention and calls for more studies in the years to come. Future studies should delve deeper into the roles of older adults in climate action, to explore how their unique experiences, skills, and perspectives can be integrated into climate strategies. There is also a need for future research to further explore the interplay between aging populations and environmental sustainability, offering new perspectives and solutions in climate-change research.

In conclusion, the emerging strategies in climate gerontology underscore the necessity of integrating older adults into the fabric of climate action, that is recognizing and harnessing the potential of older adults is essential for developing comprehensive and inclusive climate strategies. Their unconventional roles and unique contributions offer valuable insights and possible solutions, paving the way for more sustainable and resilient communities. As the world grapples with the complexities of climate change, the involvement of older adults could be a game-changer, making climate action more effective and representative of all societal segments. Their engagement is not just beneficial but essential in crafting resilient and adaptive strategies to mitigate and adapt to the environmental challenges we face.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the PKU-BHP Weiming Fellow Scholarship under Grant No. WM202204; the China Academy of Engineering under Grant No. 2022XBZD030; the China Scholarship Council under Grant No. 202306010170; and the PKU-UCL Strategic Partnership Collaboration Funds under Grant No. 7101702737.