A Scoping Review of Research on Older People and Intergenerational Relations in the Context of Climate Change

Liat Ayalon, Senjooti Roy, Omer Aloni, Norah Keating

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background and Objectives: In view of the inherited temporal dimension of climate change, this study aims to highlight diverse intergenerational effects and coping strategies by examining the state of literature on older people and intergenerational relations in the context of climate change. Research Design and Methods: A scoping review of peer-reviewed scientific literature was conducted. We searched the following bibliographical data sets: PubMed, Web of Science, and APA PsycNet in addition to a snowballing search based on Google Scholar. The primary search was conducted between September 22, 2021 and September 26, 2021, using variations of the search terms: older people AND intergenerational AND climate change. Two independent raters classified the articles using prespecified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: In total, 20 articles were maintained for data extraction. Articles reflect 2 poles in relation to older people and intergenerational relations in the context of climate change. The first emphasizes intergenerational conflicts and differences, whereas the second stresses solidarity and transmission of knowledge and practices between the generations. Discussion and Implications: Both older and younger people are affected by age-based discrimination in the context of climate change. Generational differences in energy consumption and attitudes toward climate change exist. Nonetheless, these can be overcome by stressing the solidarity between the generations and the ability of older people to contribute to the climate change movement as well as by the ability of both young and old to transmit knowledge and practices related to sustainability.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)945-958
Number of pages14
JournalGerontologist
Volume63
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Jun 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s).

Funding

This study was supported by a grant from the Israel Science Foundation (217/20) to L. Ayalon; N. Keating is an external collaborator on this grant.

FundersFunder number
Israel Science Foundation217/20

    Keywords

    • Climate change
    • Environmental sustainability
    • Generations
    • Global warming
    • Older people

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