Elderly face health risks amid climate hazards

As extreme heat becomes the "new normal" across many parts of the world, a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme, or UNEP, is sounding an alarm on heightened health risks for older persons.

Released on Thursday, the Frontiers 2025 report said annual heat-related deaths among older persons have risen by an estimated 85 percent since the 1990s.

Inger Andersen, executive director of UNEP, said the global share of people over 65 years old will rise from 10 percent in 2024 to 16 percent by 2050.