We’re Not Too Old for This

Benefit cuts, trillions in debt, surveillance, data breaches, wars, AI, climate change, pollution, extinction — the list goes on. This Earth Month, amid such crisis and contention, many of us past the half-life mark may be tempted to check out from the chaos for our remaining decades: "We're too old for this."

However, with a unique combination of experience, skill and resources, Third Agers, or people over 50 years old, are in fact poised to address these complex challenges while gaining purpose, building community, nurturing a better world and securing a meaningful legacy.

The planet is graying fast, and the political reality is that older adults will be making crucial decisions for decades to come. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2034, with longer life spans and fewer births, people aged 65 and older will outnumber minors under 19. Even the tech savants are now middle-aged.

This is important because older generations are key voters, volunteers, consumers, decision-makers, caregivers and philanthropists.

Productively channeling all this experience, power, ability and energy cannot only affect those areas, but also combat ageism, loneliness, illness, cognitive decline, depression and dependence by centering on the liberation of getting older using positive aging approaches.

So, what do older adults want, and how can we get it? Of course, there is no single answer for this diverse group. Common ground exists on financial security, health, safety and well-being, with AARP, HelpAge and the National Council on Aging offering important programs and resources. However, overlooked connections of these shared priorities to ecological or planetary health are worth examining, especially during Earth Month.

In today's globalized world, pollutants, pathogens and people move through vast and complex networks, affecting each other in myriad ways. Natural land- and seascapes succumb to development and budget cuts, impeding access to and enjoyment of the great outdoors.

Life quality and property values go down in polluted, high flood-risk and fire-prone areas. Heat-related illnesses rise with the temperatures, especially for the aged. On the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, the avian flu crosses species lines while viruses, bacteria, fungi and protists gain antimicrobial resistance to medications, impeding treatment.

Older adults, among other underserved communities, are particularly vulnerable to these threats due to bad health and other impairments, like requiring assistance or needing medications. Gen X, boomers, and the Silent Generation would do well to engage with ecological health, overcoming unhelpful political divisions and acknowledging the interconnectedness of human wellness, nature and a sustainable planet.

To be sure, all ages have important roles to play. Older adults have led busy lives and earned the right to enjoy their later years, so maybe it is time to pass the torch to advocates, organizations and younger people. But current retirees and adults approaching retirement have seeded many of today's problems and this expanding group can channel resources, time and energy into productive endeavors, from activism to fighting waste to nurturing gardens.

Homegrown National Park, for instance, is a nonprofit organization that encourages the hands-on transformation of yards, balconies, rooftops, windowsills and almost any open space into native-plant gardens. Members join a vibrant community offering numerous free resources to oppose habitat loss, effectively extending the reach and power of national parks, as shown on the Homegrown National Park Biodiversity Map. Participants contribute to a science-based movement and see immediate impacts as wildlife flourishes in restored habitats.

While not everyone is a green thumb, universally abhorred garbage, waste and pests can be countered even by assisted living communities. The global production of municipal solid waste surpasses 2 billion tons annually, and experts anticipate a 70% escalation by 2050.

In the spirit of the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle), reducing consumption and buying only what you need are the best strategies because they avoid waste burdens while saving time, hassle and money. Participating in paper, plastic, and metal recycling programs, composting food scraps and other organic waste, and donating usable goods instead of discarding them are ways to address current pollution challenges individually or as a group.

If activism and mobilization for social progress are priorities, Third Act is a U.S.-based nonprofit that advocates for climate action, democracy and racial justice, fighting for Social Security, Medicare and more. Built on the idea that people aged 60 and over hold significant, yet often underutilized, potential for enacting change, the organization offers tangible ways to make a difference, building community and working alongside younger generations for a more just and sustainable future.

The benefits of multigenerational collaboration, in which older and younger adults work as allies, are backed up by extensive research. The CoGenerate hub offers many ways to get involved in efforts on a host of issues from loneliness, economic opportunity and improving health care to music and the arts.

Indeed, many organizations provide opportunities for getting involved with countering antibiotic resistance, promoting nature conservation and securing a sustainable future. People of any faith can engage, from Presbyterians for Earth Care to Green Buddhists. Creating a group tailored to singular interests can also be rewarding, whether it is a book club, a family endeavor or a new sustainable business.

Third Agers are far from being past our prime. It is time to prioritize core values and actively engage, recognizing our continued influence and the opportunity to create a meaningful legacy on this increasingly silver and troubled planet.