The effects of environmental issues on the health

of ageing populations
Disturbances in ecosystems and the climate will have
direct and indirect effects on human health. The direct
effects include those resulting from extreme weather
events such as flooding, heat waves and severe
storms; the indirect effects include altered vector-
borne disease transmission due to increased
temperatures, the inability to grow and produce
nutritious food because of drought or damage of land
and water restrictions and compromised water safety.
The insecurity these threats will create may result in
destruction of environments and communities and
potential conflict-stimulating migration, displacement
and isolation of those too weak or unable to move.
Each of these effects will be felt even more by older
populations as the socioeconomic determinants of
health are compromised.