UN Report Warns of Rising Climate Risks for Older Adults

As extreme heat becomes a persistent global threat, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) warns of increasing health risks for older adults in its Frontiers 2025 report, published Wednesday. 

The seventh edition of the Frontiers report, titled The Weight of Time – Facing a New Era of Challenges for People and Ecosystems, warns about the impact of climate variability, at a time that communities in China, Japan, India, Europe, the United States, and other regions face prolonged heatwaves and severe flooding events.

“Heatwaves are among the most frequent and deadly impacts of climate change, along with floods and ice loss. We must prepare for the risks these impacts pose, especially for the most vulnerable, including older adults. However, as this year’s Frontiers report shows, solutions exist to help protect communities and restore long-lost ecosystems,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UNEP

The report underscores that adults aged 65 and older now represent a growing share of the global population, particularly in urban areas of low and middle-income countries. Since the 1990s, annual heat-related deaths among older adults have increased by 85%. Poor air quality and rising flood risks in low-lying coastal cities where many elderly people live compound these dangers.

Older adults with chronic illnesses, limited mobility, or precarious living conditions are especially vulnerable to heat-related health risks, including respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases, as well as increased mortality.

UNEP recommends the development of pollution-free, resilient cities with accessible public spaces and extensive green areas. Key strategies include improved urban planning, community-based disaster risk management, and better access to climate information for older populations.

Earlier this year, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution to draft a legally binding international instrument on the human rights of older people. The move could help enhance protections for those most exposed to climate risks.