{"id":115660,"date":"2026-07-01T01:43:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T23:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sonnenseite.com\/?p=115660"},"modified":"2026-07-01T09:32:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T07:32:52","slug":"climate-change-looks-different-to-different-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sonnenseite.com\/en\/science\/climate-change-looks-different-to-different-people\/","title":{"rendered":"Climate Change Looks Different to Different People"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Older people widely perceive an increase in extreme weather since their childhood. Yet how strongly they notice these changes depends on their social position, where they live and how they relate to environmental issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A new study led by Karl Landsteiner University (KL Krems) shows that environmental awareness, urban or rural residence, education and financial strain are all linked to how people aged 50 and above perceive extreme weather. The study examined perceived changes in the frequency and intensity of heat, drought, storms, rainfall and flooding, as well as changes in snow cover. Based on Austrian data from a European survey, the study shows that climate change is not only measured in temperatures and weather records. It is also interpreted through social position, everyday surroundings and personal experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Older adults matter to climate research for several reasons. They are vulnerable to heatwaves, floods, storms and other climate-related hazards, and they carry long memories of changing seasons and local environments. Yet they are not merely passive victims: as their share of society grows, their housing needs, mobility, consumption and everyday behaviour become increasingly relevant for climate policy, while their knowledge, experience and social capital may support adaptation. A joint study by KL Krems and the University of Applied Sciences St. P\u00f6lten therefore investigated older people\u2019s perceptions of extreme weather \u2014 and which social factors shape them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not Just the Weather<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOlder people do not experience climate change in a social vacuum,\u201d says Jasmin Riederer from the Competence Center for Gerontology and Health Research at KL Krems. \u201cOur results show that perceptions of extreme weather are strongly shaped by environmental awareness, living environment and socio-economic factors. That matters if climate communication and adaptation measures are meant to reach people effectively.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The analysis is based on Austrian data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Responses from 3,170 people aged 50 and above were used for regression models to examine which social factors were associated with stronger perceptions of extreme weather. Most respondents perceived increases in the frequency or intensity of several weather phenomena since childhood, especially hot days, droughts, storms and average temperatures. The most striking result concerned snow: 91.1 percent reported a decline in continuous snow cover, with 61 percent perceiving a substantial decline. Yet this broad awareness was only part of the picture. The strongest predictor was environmental awareness, although the study cannot determine whether awareness shapes perception or perceived changes strengthen awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Urbanicity also played a role. Older people living in big cities perceived stronger increases in extreme weather than those living in large towns, small towns or rural areas. One possible explanation is that urban environments make certain climate effects, especially heat, more tangible through dense infrastructure and heat island effects. By contrast, rural residents may interpret weather fluctuations more often as part of long-term seasonal variability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Social Filters<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Education and financial strain added further layers. Respondents with higher education perceived stronger increases in weather extremes than those with lower education. Severe financial difficulty was also associated with stronger perceptions; moderate difficulty, by contrast, showed no significant difference from financial security. In contrast, subjective health and loneliness showed no significant association \u2014 a result that challenges previous assumptions. \u201cThese differences show why climate communication cannot be one-size-fits-all,\u201d says Lukas Richter of St. P\u00f6lten University of Applied Sciences and Vienna University of Economics and Business. \u201cOlder people interpret environmental change through their daily surroundings, their social situation and the information available to them. Adaptation strategies need to take these differences seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The findings contribute to the emerging field of climate gerontology, which studies the intersection of population ageing and climate change. For Austria, they suggest that older adults should be addressed not only as a vulnerable group, but also as citizens whose experience, perceptions and choices matter for climate adaptation. Turning awareness into action will require climate-resilient housing, accessible information, strong local networks and communication that reflects social differences. With its Competence Center for Gerontology and Health Research, KL Krems contributes expertise at the intersection of ageing, health, society and environmental change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n