Asia’s elderly are climate-vulnerable but they’re not victims

By 2050, Asia will have more than 1.2 billion older people, making up over a quarter of its population – and 55.6 per cent of the world’s older population.

Consequently, many older people are forced to work beyond the traditional retirement age. Among those aged 65 and older who are employed, 94 per cent are engaged in the informal sector, which is typically devoid of fundamental labour protections and pension provisions.

Japan is a prime example of the challenges confronting its Asian neighbours. With a staggering 29.1 per cent of its population aged 65 or over, the country is grappling with a rapidly declining population and escalating social security costs.

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The projections paint a grim picture for Asia, where older people are expected to face nearly four times higher heat exposure than elsewhere due to the region’s large population and hot climate, according to a study published in Nature Communications.

As heat exposure rises, so too do related deaths. Another study warns that heat-related elderly deaths in the Indonesian megacity of Jakarta could rise by 12-15 times between the 2010s and 2050s.

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Economic disparities also contribute to the heightened risk faced by older people in disadvantaged communities, as they are often less financially prepared for emergencies.

The vulnerabilities are compounded by a general lack of healthcare access among older people, as highlighted by the ADB report, which found that most older people in Asia do not undergo regular health check-ups.

Yet research by the University of Alabama at Birmingham also shows that older people