Older adults, climate change and the concept of planetary health

That’s the question we’re exploring through our work in planetary health, a growing field that recognises the deep connection between human well-being and the health of our planet.

It’s a concept that’s gaining global momentum, especially since the 2015 Rockefeller Foundation–Lancet Commission report (see: Prescott and Logan, 2019), and it aligns closely with the World Health Organisation’s definition of health – "health is a state of complete physical, mental, social and ecological well-being and not merely the absence of disease – personal health involves planetary health."

A population at risk

At ARU, we’re particularly interested in how climate change affects older people. The intersections of disciplines and topics are no more complex than in the recognition of the engagement of older populations and a concern with the climate-related health risks that may increase both in scale and effect.

Globally, the experience of older people is critically linked to their ability to maintain their health and wellbeing within the context of their households and communities. However, many places are already affected by flooding, thermal extremes, and air pollution, which are increasingly recognised as disproportionately affecting older people’s abilities to remain well and maintain their local participation.

This September, we visited Simon Fraser University in Vancouver to build on our international collaboration through the Championing Older Adults for Leadership in Environmental Sustainability and Climate Empowerment (COALESCE) project. Alongside PhD student Rosie Eacott, who presented her research on climate-related health risks in the East of England, we connected with researchers, community leaders, and older adults in Canada.

A learning opportunity

One of the most potent parts of the visit was engaging with indigenous communities in British Columbia. Their deep-rooted connection to the land and traditions of ecological stewardship offered a rich perspective on sustainability and resilience.

We also worked with older adults as co-researchers, evaluating a rapid realist review on ageing and climate change—an approach that values their lived experience as a form of expertise.

Our next steps? Publishing our findings and expanding the project to include more diverse communities. We’re building a global conversation around the role of older adults in shaping climate adaptation and sustainable policy – and it’s long overdue.

Because when it comes to planetary health, every generation has a role to play – and older adults may be the climate leaders we’ve been overlooking.

Prof Sally Fowler Davis, Professor in Allied Health, School of Allied Health and Social Care