Older people concerned about climate change, with just 5.8% ‘dismissive’ – study
Just one in 17 older people are dismissive of climate change, with the majority of over-50s viewing it as a serious risk, a study suggests.
Researchers said that, contrary to common assumptions that older generations do not care about global warming, most older adults are concerned about the climate.
The study from researchers at University College London (UCL) looked at survey responses from 6,572 people in England aged 50 and over, as part of the 2023/2024 wave of the wider English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, to classify how highly engaged they were with the risks of climate change.
It found that six in 10 older adults viewed climate change as a serious issue, with almost a third (30%) highly engaged, and a further 31% engaged, with the threats of rising temperatures.
Just over one in 10 (11%) were identified as aware of the risks but fatalistic about what could be done, while more than a fifth (22%) were ambivalent or uncertain about the risks of climate change, and just 5.8% were dismissive of them.
The study found that people in their 50s were more likely to be “highly engaged” about climate change, while those in their 70s, 80s and older were more likely to be fatalistic, aware of the threat of climate change but believing it was too late to do anything about it.
It also shows that higher levels of education, wealth and public engagement were associated with being highly engaged with climate change, while lower education, economic hardship and lack of civic engagement were linked to more ambivalent or uncertain attitudes.
Lead author Dr Giorgio Di Gessa 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.”
The study found more than four fifths (82%) agreed that climate change would affect people in the UK in the next 30 years, while 64% agreed with the statement that “if things continue on their current course, we will soon experience a major disaster”.
And nearly a third agreed with the statement that climate change “is beyond control, it’s too late to do anything about it”.
Senior author Professor Paola Zaninotto said: “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.”
Dr Di Gessa said that older citizens were a diverse group in the UK, and people seeking to increase engagement on climate change should recognise a “one-size-fits-all” message would not work.
He suggested that those who were uncertain about climate change “may need clearer, more relatable information, while those who are fatalistic may need practical examples of what still can be done”.
The study was published in The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences.
Published: by Radio NewsHub