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Climate gerontology

Meeting the challenge of population ageing and climate change

„Klima-Gerontologie“

Herausforderung Bevölkerungsalterung und Klimawandel

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Abstract

The global population is ageing at a time when climate variability is increasing. It is argued that if we are to minimize the negative impact of environmental change on older people, interdisciplinary study of the convergence of the two trends, “climate gerontology”, is needed. Climate gerontology can examine the unique challenges and needs of older people in coping with extreme weather events. It can contribute to our understanding of the everyday challenges of growing old in a changing climate and how we can achieve the “longevity dividend”. In particular, it can lead the way to the development of effective policies to reduce the carbon footprint of people during their life course, protect older people from climate-related threats and mobilize their wealth of knowledge and experience to address these.

This article is published in English.

Zusammenfassung

Zur gleichen Zeit, in der sich die Klimavariabilität erhöht, altert die globale Bevölkerung. Die Minimierung der negativen Effekte von Umweltveränderungen auf ältere Menschen erfordert die interdisziplinäre Erforschung dieser beiden Trends: eine Klima-Gerontologie. Mit ihr lässt sich untersuchen, welche Herausforderungen und Bedürfnisse speziell für ältere Menschen beim Umgang mit extremen Wetterereignissen bestehen. Klima-Gerontologie kann zum Verständnis dafür beitragen, welche Schwierigkeiten beim Älterwerden in sich verändernden klimatischen Bedingungen entstehen und wie sich die „Langlebigkeitsdividende“ erreichen lässt. Klima-Gerontologie kann eine Führungsrolle einnehmen bei der Entwicklung effektiver Maßnahmen zur Reduktion des „CO2-Fußabdrucks“ für alle Menschen. Ältere kann sie vor klimabedingten Bedrohungen schützen und ihre Wissens- und Erfahrungsressourcen mobilisieren, um mit diesen Risiken umzugehen.

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Compliance with ethical guidelines

Conflict of interest. G. Haq and G. Gutman: no statement. The accompanying manuscript does not include studies on humans or animals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stockholm Environment Institute, Environment Department, University of York, YO10 5DD, York, UK

    G. Haq

  2. Gerontology Research Centre, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada

    G. Gutman

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  1. G. Haq
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  2. G. Gutman
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Correspondence to G. Haq.

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Haq, G., Gutman, G. Climate gerontology. Z Gerontol Geriat 47, 462–467 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-014-0677-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-014-0677-y

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