scholarly journals Addressing the Adverse Effects of Climate Change on the Human Rights of Older Persons

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 591-591
Author(s):  
Erin Burk-Leaver

Abstract The common consequences of climate change events include: displacement, loss of sustainable shelter and housing, and limited access to medical care and other resources such as food, clean water, and sanitation services. These adverse effects coincide to an alarming degree with the human rights most essential to those in vulnerable or marginalized groups, including older populations. Whether through displacement or disruption of supply, the stressors of climate change events greatly exacerbate older populations’ vulnerability, especially when compounded by negative social determinants of health, such as existing social, political, and economic barriers to successful aging. Using the SDGs as a framework to develop policies around (13) climate action and the use of improved (9) industry, innovation, and infrastructure to create (11) sustainable cities and communities, it is possible to establish (10) reduced inequalities to promote overall (3) good health and well-being in our older populations.

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 183
Author(s):  
Jorge Gabriel Arévalo García

Anthropogenic climate change has and will have unavoidable adverse effects despite mitigation and adaptation policies. Therefore, the financial burden of the costs of loss and damage must be distributed fairly and proportionally. This implies that those responsible for climate change must take responsibility and compensate those who suffer losses and, if possible, repair the damages related to this phenomenon. However, climate justice has been limited by the lack of a causal link between a specific climate change effect and specific damages or losses. Accordingly, this article discusses the compensation and reparation of losses and damages related to the adverse effects of climate change, as a stream applicable after mitigation and adaptation policies. In addition, this article reviews the implications of the relevant findings that established the existence and development of climate change as a problem that affects the enjoyment of human rights, to argue how the theory of human rights can contribute to the current legal model for reparation and compensation for losses and damages associated with climate change. Also, due to the impossibility of obtaining a legally binding agreement as a structure for integration, and to adequately address the problem of causes, consequences, benefits and burdens, vulnerable groups ought to be the most affected.


Author(s):  
Kerri Woods

In recent public and activist debates, threats to the sustainability of the global ecosystem, such as climate change, have increasingly been posed in terms that link the impact on human well-being to questions of rights. Environmental human rights are emerging in national and international legal practice and have been invoked by environmental political theorists seeking to explicate and justify obligations to protect and sustain the environment and to secure justice for both contemporary communities and future generations. This chapter addresses three key questions in order to unpack the concept of environmental human rights: (1) Why adopt a human rights approach? (2) How have environmental human rights been conceived? and (3) What does an account of environmental human rights entail for rights holders and duty bearers?


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 884-884
Author(s):  
Judith Scott ◽  
Helen Graham ◽  
Ann Mayo ◽  
Melissa Benton

Abstract Perception of a meaningful life is related to depression, anxiety, and general well-being. The sense that one’s life is meaningful influences overall quality of life, which influences aging well. It is not clear whether differences in residential setting influence perception of a meaningful life. This study evaluated the effect of residential setting (community versus assisted living) on perception of a meaningful life in 48 older (79.7 ± 1.0 years) women living in the community (n=24) or assisted living (n=24) who were pair matched by age. They completed a one-time questionnaire regarding self-rated health and whether life has meaning. Both questions were scored on a 5-point scale with 0 indicating poor health or no life meaning and 4 indicating excellent health or strong life meaning. There were no significant differences in age between women in community living (CL) and assisted living (AL) (78.0 ± 09 vs. 81.5 ± 1.6 years, respectively; p=0.7). Both groups also reported similar self-rated health scores (CL: 2.4 ± 0.2; AL: 2.2 ± 0.2; p=0.4), indicating good-very good health. However, there were significant differences between groups in their perception of a meaningful life. Women in CL reported significantly lower scores compared to women in AL (2.9 ± 0.2 vs. 3.6 ± 0.1; p=0.006), indicating that women in CL perceived a less meaningful life. Based on our findings, it appears that the supportive infrastructure provided by AL residential settings may promote quality of life and successful aging by enhancing the perception of a more meaningful life.


Author(s):  
Robert Heeger

Climate change raises in an important way the problem of moral responsibility. It forces us to recognise that we have a responsibility to future generations, and to ask what this responsibility implies. Here I identify four key normative questions: (1) How should we respond to uncertainty? Should we apply cost-benefit analysis in order to cope with uncertainty? (2) How should we evaluate the emission of greenhouse gases? Given that the effects of emissions will be bad, should we judge that we as emitters harm the receivers and by that do them an injustice? (3) How should we compare present costs and future benefits? Should we give little or much weight to the benefits and well-being of people in the further future? (4) How should we take heed of human rights? Should we try to avoid the adverse outcomes of a cost-benefit approach by adopting a human rights approach that specifies minimum thresholds to which all human beings are entitled?


Author(s):  
Anne Colby ◽  
Matthew Bundick ◽  
Kathleen Remington ◽  
Emily Morton

This chapter considers several conceptions of successful aging, analyzing the morally relevant aspects of these models and their missed opportunities to illuminate moral flourishing in older adults. The authors review evidence that engagement with self-transcendent goals and contributions enhances deep well-being for older people, as well as contributing to the well-being of others and the common good. They briefly report their own research on purpose beyond the self, which indicates that almost one-third of a US national sample of older people is purposeful and that purpose in later life doesn’t require economic or educational privilege or even good health. The authors suggest that the moral development field should explore ways to expand conceptions of positive aging to take account of moral dimensions of flourishing and extend insights about moral maturity into the later stages of life.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S75-S75
Author(s):  
Toni C Antonucci

Abstract The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) developed by the United Nations in 2015 have as their underlying theme, the pledge that no one will be left behind. The SDGs address global poverty, inequality, climate change, the environment, peace and justice. They are intended to be global benchmarks to be reached by 2030 to ensure well-being and prosperity while protecting and promoting human rights and freedoms (UN, 2015). They envision a world without poverty, where all persons can live with dignity and security in societies free of violence and discrimination based on the foundation of universal human rights. The 17 goals and their 169 targets cover a range of social and economic development issues from poverty and gender inequality to climate change and sustainable cities. These goals are both interrelated and indivisible with each important for individual and social well-being. For example, achieving gender equality can help eradicate poverty while improved health can contribute to increased individual productivity and economic growth. Unfortunately, the needs of older people are larger ignored. In this symposium we outline how gerontologists can and have contributed to the SDG goals. We provide input from four disciplines whose work directly addresses the needs of older people. The four disciplines are: health- how do we meet the health needs of older people, psychology – what are the mental health issues facing older people, public policy – how can\has governments assist through laws and policy, and social work – how can social work address the needs of the vulnerable old.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S341-S341
Author(s):  
Alexandra P Harris ◽  
Alexandria Nuccio ◽  
Ashely M Stripling

Abstract Factors like physiology, mental health, personal resources, and social support have been identified to contribute to perceived successful aging (Cosco, Prina, Perales, Stephan & Brayne, 2015); however, sense of control’s role in these relationships remains underexplored. Studying the impact of sense of control is crucial, given that many factors associated with well-being are correlated with later life success. The current study investigates associations among sense of control and constructs known to define successful aging. The data was derived from the Survey of Midlife in the US database (MIDUS3). Participants were primarily Caucasian (88.7%) and female (54.9%) with a mean age of 63.64 years (SD=11.35). A series of hierarchical multiple regressions revealed that sense of control impacts physical health (F = 87.734, p<0.001), depression (F =43.944, p<0.001), anxiety (F =24.680, p<0.001), social actualization (F = 66.450, p<0.001), and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) (F = 135.963, p<0.001) over demographic correlates (i.e., age, sex, and race). The present findings suggest that higher levels of control results in increased comfort in social atmospheres, absence of mood symptoms, good health, and limited issues with IADL. Implications of the current findings include a deeper understanding of how psychological factors, such as sense of control, can impact physical and mental health in order to improve care and promote wellbeing in late life.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 (3) ◽  
pp. 23-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karimon Nesha ◽  
◽  
Atiq Rahman ◽  
Khalid Hasan ◽  
Ziauddin Ahmed ◽  
...  

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