Ten million Canadians, according to Statistics Canada, were over 60 years of age in 2023. That’s 26 percent of Canada’s population. You might think of this age cohort as retired, traveling, or otherwise not doing much. Think again. Almost 40 percent of Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1965 are still working, 40 percent volunteer, and critically, almost 80 percent vote, according to Elections Canada, compared to almost 54 percent of 18-to-34-year olds. This cohort is also concerned about climate change and the environment.
A recent survey by EcoAnalytics shows similar levels of concern about climate change to 18- to-34-year-olds, with four in 10 saying climate change and extreme weather are high risk; 64 percent say addressing climate change and environmental issues is important. Almost six in 10 are ashamed of what we are leaving behind for future generations. Rather than just lamenting the state of affairs, older people across Canada are coming together to do something about it.
Seniors for Climate is a national movement of older Canadians rallying around the idea that we have the social power, time, resources and skills to make a difference on climate change and to do it for the sake of our children and grandchildren. We are declaring that October 1st, the United Nations Day of Older Persons and in Canada, Nationals Seniors’ Day, is a national day of climate action. Seventy-five communities, and growing, are gathering across Canada. Events are planned in Fredericton, Moncton, Saint John, Sackville and Saint Andrews.
Why is October 1st so important? We are facing unnatural disasters – new and escalating levels of record-shattering heat, wildfires, and floods. Extreme weather events put our health and quality of life at risk, especially older people who have less capacity to cope with overheated homes, power outages, and evacuations.
These unsafe extremes are mostly caused by burning oil, gas and coal pouring heat-trapping pollution into the air. It’s been happening since coal first powered ships, but it really ramped up after World War ll to power growing economies and population. Now those Baby Boom Babies are Baby Boom Seniors. An unstable climate is not safe for us and not what we want to pass on to our children and grandchildren.
There are affordable and healthy solutions to climate change beneficial to all. First, we need to stop burning fossil fuels and switch to renewable energy to power our lives. Second, we need to retrofit our homes and buildings so they use less energy and save us money. We want heat pumps and public transit for all, and electric school buses for our grandchildren. Third, we need to help communities prepare for the extreme events that are already happening.
Many older Canadians have the time to advocate for change and the know-how to be part of a broad-based and deep-rooted movement – so that our kids and our grandkids inherit a better world. And – perhaps most important – we vote. As a bloc, we can make a difference at the ballot box. Join us now, because later really is too late.