The report identifies several dangerous impacts of climate change, including glacier melting that may awaken ancient pathogens and floods that could release hazardous chemicals into the environment.
NAIROBI, Kenya, July 11 – The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has issued a stark warning in its Frontiers 2025 Report, highlighting the escalating health risks older persons face as extreme heat becomes increasingly commonplace.
The report identifies several dangerous impacts of climate change, including glacier melting that may awaken ancient pathogens and floods that could release hazardous chemicals into the environment.
The seventh edition of the Frontiers Report, titled The Weight of Time – Facing a New Age of Challenges for People and Ecosystems, is part of UNEP’s Foresight Trajectory initiative.
It serves to illuminate emerging environmental issues while also proposing potential solutions.
It’s worth noting that the first Frontiers Report, published in 2016, alertly identified the rising risk of zoonotic diseases, notably predating the COVID-19 pandemic by four years.
Released at a time when communities in countries such as China, Japan, India, Europe, and the USA face prolonged extreme heat and flooding, the report underscores the urgent need for action.
“Heat waves are among the most frequent and lethal impacts of climate change, alongside floods and diminishing ice cover,” stated Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.
She emphasised, “We must be prepared for the risks these impacts pose, especially for society’s most vulnerable groups, including older persons.
However, as this year’s Frontiers Report illustrates, viable solutions exist to help safeguard communities and restore ecosystems long thought lost.”
With adults aged 65 and older becoming an increasingly prominent demographic across the globe, especially in urban areas of low- and middle-income countries.
Annual heat-related fatalities in this age group have surged by approximately 85 per cent since the 1990s.
The report also highlights deteriorating air quality and flooding risks in low-lying coastal cities, where many older individuals reside.
Older people, particularly those suffering from chronic illnesses, limited mobility, or frailty, are disproportionately vulnerable to heat-related health complications.
They include respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases, leading to heightened mortality rates.
To mitigate these risks, the report advocates for transforming urban environments into pollution-free, resilient, and accessible spaces adorned with ample vegetation.
Recommended strategies encompass enhanced urban planning, community-centred disaster risk management, and improved access to climate information tailored for older populations.
In a significant development earlier this year, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a new resolution aimed at creating an international legally binding instrument focused on the human rights of older persons.
This, potentially paved the way to enhance safety for those most susceptible to climate change’s adverse impacts.
Ancient Microbes
Beyond the risks to older individuals, the report raises alarms about the potential reactivation of ancient microbes.
If global temperatures exceed 2˚C above pre-industrial levels, the cryosphere—which comprises glaciers, seasonal snow, ice sheets, ice shelves, sea ice, seasonally frozen ground, and permafrost—could face dramatic reductions in mass.
These cryospheric regions are inhabited by 670 million people and serve as vital water sources for billions more.
The report warns that dormant fungi, bacteria, and viruses residing in these frozen zones may reactivate, thereby increasing the risk of antimicrobial resistance.
To curb the decline of the cryosphere, the Frontiers 2025 Report recommends aggressive reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, particularly black carbon emissions from diesel engines, agricultural burning, and wildfires.
Additionally, it advocates for limiting tourism in these fragile regions and accelerating scientific research on the diverse array of cryospheric microorganisms that may not survive the cryosphere’s decline.
Banned Chemicals
The report also highlights the dangers associated with the remobilisation chemicals that were banned or phased out decades ago.
Flooding can disturb sediment that has accumulated these toxic chemicals over time, potentially reintroducing them into urban areas and food systems.
To address this rising risk, the study outlines effective measures which include traditional erosion control solutions such as polders, dykes, and retention basins.
UNEP also suggests improved drainage systems and nature-based solutions like “sponge-city” approaches.
It further calls for regular pollutant monitoring across various locations and products, in addition to economic impact studies related to this form of pollution.
Ageing Dams
Another critical issue addressed in the Frontiers 2025 Report is the risk posed by ageing dams.
While dams offer numerous benefits, they can also have detrimental effects on indigenous and fishing-dependent communities, as well as degrade ecosystems.
The report notes a growing trend in Europe and North America regarding the removal of large, older dams that have become unsafe, obsolete, or economically unviable.
Furthermore, it emphasises potential advantages of removing these structures to restore natural river connectivity, thereby benefiting biodiversity and ecosystems.
Efforts to reverse river fragmentation and reinstate natural processes align with the UN’s principles for ecosystem restoration initiatives.
