The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released its 2025 Frontiers report titled *The Weight of Time*. It marks the rising dangers of extreme heat and legacy chemical pollution, especially for the world’s ageing population. The report warns that climate change and flooding could worsen exposure to toxic pollutants long buried in sediments. This poses severe health risks, particularly for older adults in urban and vulnerable regions.
Rising Heat Threats to Older Adults
Heat-related deaths among people aged 65 and above have surged by 85% since the 1990s. If global temperatures rise by 2°C, these deaths could increase by 370% by 2050. Older adults struggle to regulate body temperature, making them highly vulnerable to heat stress. Illnesses such as stroke, heart failure, asthma, and pneumonia are more common during extreme heat. Heat exposure is a growing concern in tropical and mid-latitude regions. In India, the elderly experienced up to four extra heatwave days annually between 2013 and 2022 compared to earlier decades.
Urban Ageing and Climate Vulnerability
The global urban population is expected to rise to 68% by 2050. More older people are living in cities to access healthcare and social services. In 2015, 58% of those aged 60 and above resided in urban areas. This trend increases the challenges of protecting ageing populations during heatwaves and climate disasters. UNEP recommends making cities age-friendly with better urban planning, green spaces, and pollution control. The ‘15-minute city’ model, where daily needs are within walking or cycling distance, can help older adults live independently and reduce emissions.
Legacy Pollutants and Flood Risks
Flooding can disturb sediments containing toxic legacy pollutants like heavy metals (lead, cadmium) and persistent organic chemicals (pesticides, industrial by-products). These chemicals do not break down easily and accumulate in sediments of rivers, lakes, and estuaries. Floodwaters can spread contaminants into the environment and food chain, causing neurotoxicity, cancers, and reproductive harm. Past floods in Texas, Niger Delta, and Pakistan released hazardous chemicals from sediments and storage sites, worsening pollution risks. UNEP stresses the need for monitoring these pollutants to assess health and environmental dangers.
Managing Floods and Pollution
UNEP advocates for nature-based flood control measures such as restoring wetlands and floodplains. Traditional infrastructure like dikes and retention basins should be combined with ecosystem restoration. However, these methods alone cannot fully solve sediment contamination. River basin management plans balancing flood retention, conservation, and water use pressures are essential. Continuous monitoring of pollutants and adaptive management strategies involving local communities and citizen science are critical to address evolving flood and contamination risks.
International Actions and Recommendations
The UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution to protect the rights of older persons, recognising their vulnerability to climate change. UNEP calls for investing in weather stations and community disaster risk management to help ageing populations adapt. It also urges further research on pollutant remobilisation during floods to better understand and mitigate risks. Urban and environmental policies must prioritise resilience and inclusivity to safeguard health amid climate impacts.
Questions for UPSC:
- Point out the impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations, especially the elderly, and suggest urban planning solutions to mitigate these risks.
- Critically analyse the role of legacy pollutants in environmental health, with suitable examples of how floods exacerbate their effects.
- Estimate the effectiveness of nature-based solutions versus traditional infrastructure in managing flood risks and pollution control.
- Underline the importance of international legal frameworks in protecting human rights related to climate change and ageing populations.
