Mobilizing Older People to Address Climate Change

Abstract

Global climate change poses a serious threat due to increases in large-scale drought, incidence of disease, shortages of water and food, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events (IPCC, 2014). If concentrations of greenhouse gasses remain unaltered, scientists predict that widespread ecosystem collapse could possibly ensue. Climate-related events are resulting in disasters and states of emergency more frequently and severely than in the past, presenting a threat to the security, public health and safety, and economic vitality of communities and individuals (NASEM, 2016). These stressors to human environments will be borne disproportionately by vulnerable human populations. Older persons are among the most at risk and will therefore face heightened challenges in adapting...