What we're calling for from COP27 decision-makers

The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP27, takes place from 6 to 18 November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

The climate crisis is affecting older people in low and middle-income countries across the world. An increasing number of our programmes are established by necessity in response to climate-related emergencies. From droughts in East Africa, to floods in Pakistan, older people are bearing witness to the impact extreme weather events are having on them and their families.

It is vital that global leaders take effective action at COP27. Alison Marshall, Age International’s Chief Executive Officer, highlights what the organisation would like to see from the climate conference:

"The climate crisis affects everyone, wherever they live, whatever their age. People of all ages are working together to adapt to and mitigate its impact.

Older people have wisdom and skills, and are helping their communities to build resilience in the face of climate change. Many have seen weather become increasingly extreme during their lifetime, and often hold important knowledge on coping with drought situations, reading climate patterns and recognising when to move. In South Sudan, we are supporting older people to share this knowledge and become recognised community leaders, mediating in disputes that arise due to the increased pressure on people’s livelihoods. But older people can also be severely affected by climate change because health conditions, disabilities and isolation can make it harder to respond to their needs.

We are working to ensure that older people’s voices are heard when climate-related plans are being decided and we are working with older people across the world to build resilience for current and future generations.

In the Thar region of India we are working with a partner to support communities to build Khadins, a traditional method of harvesting water in an area where climate change has been exacerbating droughts. In Mozambique after 2019’s Cyclone Idai, one of the worst tropical cyclones on record, we provided initial life-saving relief, and have since transitioned to helping older people recover their means of livelihood. These have helped communities tackle and prevent the causes of climate vulnerability, while promoting resilience to future disasters.

We call on the decision-makers at COP27 in Egypt this November to address the interaction between our world’s rapidly ageing population and the challenges of climate change by recognising older people’s agency and role in tackling this crisis, as well as their particular needs and rights. This is vital, because unless we keep climate change within manageable limits and increase investment in solutions, a healthy older age will not be possible for anyone."