Footnote:
Nach Informationen von SSRN wurde die ursprüngliche Fassung des Dokuments December 10, 2022 erstellt
Description:
Climate change, simply described as “any change in average weather that lasts for a long period of time”, has been called out for specific attention in commentaries on risks to health and human rights during emergency situations. Climate change, and the attendant climate-related events including heat waves and hurricanes, put everyone at risk and threaten universal access to fundamental human rights to clean air, water, adequate food and housing and physical and mental health. However, many older persons are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to complex medical conditions; dependence on caregivers and intact medical delivery systems, which can be fragmented during climate disasters; normal aging processes that limit agility and mobility; cognitive impairments that occur as people age and dependence on medications and life-sustaining equipment that may be unavailable because of a climate-related event. Older people who are also vulnerable due to economic insecurity and/or living in substandard housing face additional risks when climate events ravage their communities. In addition, the events associated with climate change also compromise the ability of States to support basic human rights for older persons, such as the rights to safety, security, social protection, care and support