The impact of climate change on the rights of older persons
OHCHR and climate change
The adverse effects of climate change have a broad range of negative human rights impacts. These impacts fall more heavily on those who are already in vulnerable situations, owing to factors such as geography, poverty, gender, age, indigenous or minority status, national or social origin, birth or other status and disability.
Older persons, including particularly older persons with disabilities and older women, are among those most affected by climate-related harms such as the increasing spread of vector-borne diseases, heat stress, and the increasing frequency and intensity of sudden- and slow-onset disasters which can impact their physical and mental health and wellbeing.
At the same time, older persons possess vast reserves of knowledge, experience and resilience, making their participation, inclusion, and leadership key to human rights-based global efforts to adapt to and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
Activities, events and reports
OHCHR is undertaking the following activities as a part of its work on the human rights of older persons in the context of climate change:
Analytical study on the rights of older persons in the context of climate change (April 2021)
In its resolution 44/7 the Human Rights Council requested that OHCHR, with the input of States and other stakeholders, prepare a “study on the promotion and protection of the rights of older persons in the context of climate change, including their particular vulnerabilities, such as physical and mental health risks, and their contributions to efforts to address the adverse impact of climate change.”
To inform the report, OHCHR has transmitted a Note Verbale [English | French] and Questionnaire [English | French] to Member States, NGOs, UN Agencies, IGOs, Academic Institutions and NHRIs, inviting them to respond to the questionnaire and provide input.
Read the Analytical study on the rights of older persons in the context of climate change.
Easy to read version in English
Human Rights Council panel discussion on the human rights of older persons in the context of climate change
Human Rights Council resolution 44/7 (A/HRC/RES/44/7) decided to incorporate into its programme of work for the 47th session a panel discussion on the rights of older persons in the context of climate change. The panel concept note is available below.
- Read the summary of the panel discussion on the human rights of older persons in the context of climate change (A/HRC/49/61) - (Easy to read version in English) - (Plain English version)
- Concept note for the panel discussion on the human rights of older persons in the context of climate change
- Opening statement by Ms. Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Opening statement by Ms. Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction
- Video of the panel discussion
Statements by panellists
- Ms. Claudia Mahler, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons
- Mr. Saleemul Huq, Director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development
- Ms. Katharina Rall, Senior Environment Researcher, Human Rights Watch
- Mr. Handaine Mohamed, Expert on issues of climate change and indigenous peoples in Africa
Inputs received for the Analytical study on the rights of older persons in the context of climate change
States
- Azerbaijan
- Cambodia - Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans, and Youth Rehabilitation
- Cambodia - Ministry of the Environment
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Finland
- Honduras
- Iraq
- Maldives
- Mexico
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Switzerland
National human rights institutions
- El Salvador: Office for the Defense of Human Rights (English | Español)
- El Salvador: Ombudsperson (English | Español)
- Nicaragua: National Human Rights Institution (English | Español)
- Nigeria: National Human Rights Commission
- Philippines: Commission on Human Rights
- Portugal: Ombudsman
- Slovakia: National Centre for Human Rights
Civil society