Global ageing and climate change Regional dialogue series Asia and the Pacific Webinar summary

This webinar summary, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute, details a regional dialogue on the intersection of global ageing and climate change in the Asia-Pacific region. It examines the specific vulnerabilities of older adults to climate hazards, the systemic exclusion of their perspectives from policy, and the potential for older persons to contribute to climate resilience through traditional knowledge and community-led action.

• The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing a significant demographic shift, housing 697 million people aged 60 and over, which constitutes 60% of the global older adult population. By 2050, China, India, Japan, and Indonesia are projected to have the highest proportions of older adults.
• Older adults in the Asia-Pacific region face extreme climate risks, including a projection that by mid-century they will experience nearly four times higher heat exposure than other regions due to the tropical climate and population size. In 2023, the region saw 79 hydrometeorological disasters, with floods and storms causing over 2,000 fatalities.
• There is a systemic gap in climate policy regarding ageing; key documents like Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) often omit ageing considerations. Furthermore, societal ageism frequently excludes older adults from policymaking and climate action planning.
• Older adults are identified as valuable assets for climate resilience rather than just vulnerable individuals, possessing traditional knowledge and experience. Examples include older adults in Indonesia engaging in organic farming and community forestry, and those in India utilizing traditional practices to survive harsh arid and desert climates.
• In South Korea, older adults (aged 65+) show higher levels of climate concern (94%) than those aged 19-29 (79%). Between 2010 and 2019, this age group accounted for 68.5% of yearly average heat-related deaths, leading 123 older citizens to petition the government in March 2024 for stronger protective measures and higher emissions reduction goals.
• The document proposes a 'triangular strategy' to address the intersection of ageing and climate change: 'Protect' (tailoring disaster response and housing for older adults), 'Reduce' (mitigating the carbon footprint of older adults), and 'Mobilise' (engaging older adults in community planning and resilience-building).
• Pacific Island States are highlighted as critical focal points due to their extreme vulnerability to rising sea levels despite contributing only 0.01% of emissions. In these regions, elders play a vital role in passing down traditional knowledge regarding the sea, winds, and land conservation to maintain harmony with the environment.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2024). Global ageing and climate change Regional dialogue series Asia and the Pacific Webinar summary. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/global-ageing-climate-change-asia-and-the-pacific-webinar-summary-01072024.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Global ageing and climate change Regional dialogue series Asia and the Pacific Webinar summary. 2024. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/global-ageing-climate-change-asia-and-the-pacific-webinar-summary-01072024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Global ageing and climate change Regional dialogue series Asia and the Pacific Webinar summary |date=2024 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/global-ageing-climate-change-asia-and-the-pacific-webinar-summary-01072024.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2024global, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Global ageing and climate change Regional dialogue series Asia and the Pacific Webinar summary}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2024}, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/global-ageing-climate-change-asia-and-the-pacific-webinar-summary-01072024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }