Highlights
- •What is the primary question addressed by this study?—The aim of this paper is to highlight the connection between climate change and mental health conditions of older people. We show that climate change exacerbates vulnerabilities of older people with mental health conditions, triggers new mental health conditions and that climate change ageism threatens wellbeing.
- •What is the main finding of this study?—The absence of a legally binding international instrument specifically protecting the human rights of older persons and minimal references to older persons in key international climate instruments attest to the lack of attention to and visibility of older persons in national and international law.
- •What is the meaning of the finding?—A United Nations convention on the rights of older persons is urgently called for to enable older persons to live free from discrimination and to fully enjoy their rights. There is a need to integrate the areas of older people and environmental sustainability to ensure that the rights of older people are preserved especially now, as the effects of the climate change crisis become more pronounced.
Abstract
Climate change threatens the basic prerequisites for wellbeing, including clean air
and water, food supply and the adequacy and security of shelter. Climate change is
a powerful and ongoing presence in the lives of older persons, both creating and exacerbating
vulnerabilities. The absence of a legally binding international instrument specifically
protecting the human rights of older persons and minimal references to older persons
in key international climate instruments attest to the lack of attention to and visibility
of older persons in national and international law. There is a need to integrate the
areas of older people and environmental sustainability to ensure that the rights of
older people are preserved especially now, as the effects of the climate change crisis
become more pronounced.
Key Words
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References
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 29, 2021
Accepted:
June 17,
2021
Received:
June 17,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
