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Climate

Climate-Resilient Cities Enhance Health and Well-being of Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Research from Shangqiu Normal University reveals that climate-resilient city initiatives can significantly improve the health and well-being of middle-aged and older adults, particularly in vulnerable populations and regions. The study, which integrated data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and the China City Statistical Yearbook, found that the construction of climate-resilient cities improves self-rated health, reduces exposure to extreme weather events, and enhances energy efficiency. The findings highlight the importance of incorporating climate resilience into urban planning and public health strategies to address both environmental challenges and population aging.

Key Takeaways:

  • Climate-resilient city initiatives significantly improved self-rated health among middle-aged and older adults.
  • The health benefits of climate-resilient city development were mediated through reduced exposure to extreme weather events, improved air quality, enhanced energy efficiency, and better outcomes in cognitive function, social participation, and thermal adaptability.
  • Subgroup analyses revealed stronger positive effects among individuals with chronic diseases, as well as those living in urban areas and western regions of China.
  • The research found that climate-resilient city initiatives can address both environmental challenges and population aging.
  • The pilot program for climate-resilient cities (CRC) was launched by the Chinese government to proactively mitigate climate risks and promote sustainable well-being among older adults.
  • The study integrated data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, 2011-2020) and the China City Statistical Yearbook.
  • The difference-in-difference (DID) estimation strategy was applied to assess the causal effects of CRC implementation on health outcomes among middle-aged and older adults.

Statistics:

  • The study found that climate-resilient city initiatives improved self-rated health among middle-aged and older adults.
  • The construction of climate-resilient cities reduced exposure to extreme weather events by 15.6%.
  • Enhanced energy efficiency was achieved through climate-resilient city development, resulting in a 12.8% reduction in energy consumption.
  • The health benefits of climate-resilient city development were observed across various dimensions, including cognitive function (8.5%), social participation (9.2%), and thermal adaptability (10.5%).
  • The study found that climate-resilient city initiatives had stronger positive effects among individuals with chronic diseases (24.5%), as well as those living in urban areas (21.1%) and western regions of China (20.8%).

Sources:

  • Can climate-resilient city construction promote healthier middle-aged and older adults? Evidences from China. BMC Public Health, 2025,25(1):1-15.
  • China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, 2011-2020)
  • China City Statistical Yearbook
  • Shangqiu Normal University
  • Research Center of the Economic and Social Development of Henan East Provincial Joint, Shangqiu Normal University
  • BMC Public Health (http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com)
  • https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s12889-025-24562-7

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