Growing Old in a Changing Climate

This 2008 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the intersection of an ageing population and climate change, specifically focusing on the United Kingdom. It analyzes how older people are both contributors to carbon emissions and uniquely vulnerable to climate-related threats due to physical, financial, and social factors. The report proposes a national policy framework to reduce this vulnerability through improvements in housing energy efficiency, local accessibility, and integrated health and social care.

• Older people in the UK are categorized into three groups with varying carbon footprints: 'baby boomers' (aged 50-64) have the highest footprint at approximately 13.5 tonnes of CO2 per year; 'seniors' (aged 65-74) follow at approximately 12.1 tonnes; and 'elders' (aged 75 plus) have the highest climate impact per pound spent, largely because home heating represents 40 per cent of their footprint.
• Climate change is predicted to increase the UK's mean annual temperature by 2.5 to 3.0 ºC by the end of the century, with more significant warming expected in the south and east. This will likely result in hotter, drier summers and more frequent winter rainfall, storms, and windy weather.
• Older people face heightened vulnerability to climate change due to a combination of exposure, sensitivity, and coping capacity. Sensitivity is influenced by factors such as genetic disposition, pre-existing illness, income, and access to public health infrastructure, while coping capacity depends on individual assets, social networks, and social protection policies.
• Extreme heat poses a severe risk to older people, particularly women aged 75-plus and those with chronic illnesses like diabetes or heart conditions. The August 2003 European heatwave resulted in an estimated 14,802 deaths in France and 2,139 excess deaths in England and Wales.
• Fuel poverty and poor energy efficiency in housing contribute to high winter mortality rates among older people in the UK. In 2005, approximately 1.5 million homes with residents over 65 lacked adequate insulation and heating, and 22 per cent of households with someone aged 75-plus had no central heating.
• Transport accessibility is a critical lifeline for older people's independence. Climate-related events like floods and storms disrupt road and rail routes, while the trend toward out-of-town shopping centres and the withdrawal of bus services have increased car dependency and isolation.
• Personal carbon trading is suggested as a potentially socially progressive mechanism that could benefit low-income older people. By consuming less, some older people might generate carbon surpluses that could be sold to others, potentially helping them escape poverty.
• The report recommends that the UK government establish an 'Older People and Climate Change Group' to develop a national policy framework. This framework should include risk-assessing all future policies to ensure they do not undermine greenhouse gas reduction targets.
• A major investment programme is recommended to 'climate change proof' the homes of older people, starting with those of retirement age, to reduce fuel poverty and CO2 emissions through retrofitting to the highest energy efficiency standards.
• The report advocates for a 'modal shift' in local transport, drawing on best practices from Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, and the Netherlands to improve walking, cycling, and public transport accessibility for older people.

APA

Haq, G., Whitelegg, J., & Kohler, M. (2008). Growing Old in a Changing Climate. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/climate_change_growing_old.pdf

Chicago

Haq, Gary, John Whitelegg, and Mervyn Kohler. Growing Old in a Changing Climate. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2008. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/climate_change_growing_old.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Haq |first1=Gary |last2=Whitelegg |first2=John |last3=Kohler |first3=Mervyn |title=Growing Old in a Changing Climate |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=August 2008 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/climate_change_growing_old.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{haq2008growing, author = {Haq, Gary and Whitelegg, John and Kohler, Mervyn}, title = {{Growing Old in a Changing Climate}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2008}, month = aug, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/climate_change_growing_old.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }