Older People and Climate Change

The report examines the relationship between an ageing population and climate change in the UK, noting that older adults—particularly 'baby boomers'—often have the highest carbon footprints. It identifies a gap in public engagement, as older people frequently feel they are neither affected by climate change nor capable of taking personal action. The document critiques top-down communication strategies and recommends a shift toward peer-to-peer interaction, the use of trusted community brands, and positive framing to encourage sustainable behavioural change among the over-50s.

• Baby boomers (aged 50-64) have the highest average carbon footprint of any age group in the UK, at 13.5 CO2 tonnes per capita, followed by seniors (65-74) at 12.9 and elders (75+) at 12.0.
• There is a 'replacement effect' where the baby boomer generation, characterized by higher consumption and leisure-oriented lifestyles, is moving into older age groups and replacing previous low-carbon habits.
• Older people are more vulnerable to climate change due to potential physical, financial, and emotional fragility, as well as a higher likelihood of deteriorating health.
• Survey data indicates that older people (over 55s) are less likely than younger people to believe they will be affected by climate change or that they can personally help reduce it through behavioural changes.
• Top-down mass information campaigns are often ineffective for older people; instead, direct peer-to-peer interaction and the use of trusted agencies (such as Age Concern or faith groups) are more successful in promoting sustainable living.
• The report recommends ten specific strategies for engagement, including abandoning stereotypes of older people as passive, using positive messaging instead of guilt, and providing infrastructural support such as improved rural bus services and grants for renewable energy systems.

APA

Haq, G., Brown, D., & Hards, S. (2010). Older People and Climate Change. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate-mitigation-adaptation/pr - old people and climate change pr 100826lowres.pdf

Chicago

Haq, Gary, Dave Brown, and Sarah Hards. Older People and Climate Change. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2010. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate-mitigation-adaptation/pr - old people and climate change pr 100826lowres.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Haq |first1=Gary |last2=Brown |first2=Dave |last3=Hards |first3=Sarah |title=Older People and Climate Change |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2010 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate-mitigation-adaptation/pr - old people and climate change pr 100826lowres.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{haq2010older, author = {Haq, Gary and Brown, Dave and Hards, Sarah}, title = {{Older People and Climate Change}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2010}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate-mitigation-adaptation/pr - old people and climate change pr 100826lowres.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }