Six out of 10 older people in England view climate change as a serious risk, with only one in 17 (5.8%) dismissive of climate change concerns, according to a new study led by UCL (University College London) researchers.
The study, published in The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, looked at survey responses from 6,572 people in England aged 50 and over who were asked to rate their agreement or disagreement with statements about climate change.
Analysing these responses, the research team classed most respondents as highly engaged (30%) or engaged (31%) with climate change risk. Just over a quarter of respondents were ambivalent or uncertain (22%), while smaller percentages of older people identified as risk-aware but fatalistic (11%) and dismissive (5.8%).
Those in their 50s were more likely to be highly engaged, while those in their 70s, 80s and older were more likely to be risk-aware but fatalistic – that is, aware of the adverse consequences of climate change but believing it is too late to do anything about it.
Lead author Dr Giorgio Di Gessa (UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care) said: "It is often assumed that older generations do not care about climate change – but our study shows this is not the case. Most older adults are concerned about the climate. They believe climate change is happening and has not been exaggerated and view it as severe enough to warrant action. Only a small minority are dismissive of the issue.
"Older adults in the UK are also a diverse group. For people seeking to increase engagement on climate change, a one-size-fits-all message won't work. For instance, those who are uncertain may need clearer, more relatable information, while those who are fatalistic may need practical examples of what still can be done."
The researchers used 2023-24 data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), a long-running nationally representative survey that gathers a wide range of information from people aged 50+ in England.
Researchers also found differences in the groups' profiles. Respondents who were better off financially, more educated, and more socially engaged were more likely to be classed as engaged or highly engaged about climate change risk.
Those facing financial strain and those with lower education were more likely to be classed as uncertain or ambivalent.
Looking at the survey responses that informed researchers' grouping of respondents:
- 82% either strongly agreed or tended to agree with the statement "People in the UK will be affected by climate change in the next 30 years".
- 64% agreed with the statement "If things continue on their current course, we will soon experience a major environmental disaster".
- Nearly a third of respondents agreed with the statement "Climate change is beyond control, it's too late to do anything about it".
Senior author Professor Paola Zaninotto (UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care) said: "Our study is the first to explore older people's views of climate change risk in England. Older people, especially those in the oldest age groups, are more vulnerable to climate change-related events such as flooding and heatwaves, and we found that those who are more engaged with climate change tend to be better informed and more prepared for these events.
"At the same time, older adults are not only affected by climate change, they can also shape the response to it. They are a group with high levels of political participation and therefore have significant potential to influence climate policies and outcomes."
The research was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
