Rights on paper, dignity in practice: Why climate justice must include older people

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s older people’s population changing rapidly and increasing vastly. Thirty years ago, there was 1.1 million people aged 60, now this has just tripled and more than one in every ten Nepalis fall under this category. With these numbers, the country is already in ageing society because their children and family members are living and working abroad, making them alone and socially disconnected in everyday lives. But the issue doesn’t end here, the climate induced disasters, adding more vulnerabilities to their lives, families and communities too.

However, decision-makers often consider older people to be only recipients of social security allowances, while many of their broader needs and rights remain overlooked including the impact of climate change. These overlooked issues are mostly that older people living alone, with less care and access to essential services require them, having no age friendly infrastructure. They also face loneliness and felt isolated in family and community. The older people’s income generation issue is also overlooked, and their voice and participation are yet fully not valued. The recent flash flood due to glacier outburst in Rasuwa evidence that their issue of protection severely ignored.

Climate change worsening ageing lives

The extreme climatic events can significantly impact to the older persons in their mobility, increasing their health and care needs. Disaster caused by these climatic events may force them to leave their house and community, lose their livelihood options and the asset they have. This displacement further pushes them into isolation and loneliness. Moreover, the disaster such as quake, flash flood, landslide compound vulnerabilities to the older people already face due to natural ageing and existing health conditions making climate change not just an environment issue but also an ageing issue. No people, community and country is exempt from the impact of climate change across the world. Nepal is no exception to this reality and the flood impacted five districts have also experienced a lot of challenges.