Kathmandu, 15 July 2025
In a stark warning issued through the Frontiers 2025 Report, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has shed light on the growing climate vulnerabilities of older populations, particularly those residing in low-income and densely populated urban areas.
“Heat waves are among the most frequent and deadly impacts of climate change, along with floods and shrinking ice cover,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “We must be prepared for the risks these impacts pose, especially for society’s most vulnerable, including older persons.”
According to the report, annual heat-related deaths among people aged 65 and above have surged by approximately 85% since the 1990s. This alarming trend is primarily driven by increasing global temperatures and intensified urban heat islands, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
High-risk zones include flood-prone, polluted, and densely populated urban settings where older adults already face multiple health and socio-economic challenges. Chronic illnesses, frailty, and limited mobility increase their susceptibility to respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic complications during climate extremes.
