Past
Over the next quarter century, climate change is likely to accelerate rapidly even if countries are successful in reducing carbon and methane emissions. Older adults are likely to have a harder time adapting to climate change and their health is more likely to be affected. While there have been a number of studies examining the direct and indirect effects of climate change on health, few focus specifically on the older population. Furthermore, most research focuses on mortality outcomes, but ignores morbidity. In this seminar, researchers discussed the potential health consequences of climate change on older Americans, identified mechanisms through which climate change affects health, and examined the role of socioeconomic status and societal disadvantage (e.g., racism, sexism, ageism, and anti-immigrant sentiment) on coping with these changes. The seminar also explored options for overcoming data limitations that inhibit our ability to investigate key climate-aging interactions.