78% of low-income elderly Hongkongers have suffered heat-related distress – Greenpeace
Close to 80 per cent of low-income elderly residents in Hong Kong report suffering physical or mental distress related to extreme heat, a Greenpeace survey has found, highlighting the demographic’s vulnerability to rising temperatures. Greenpeace said on Monday that it surveyed 127 residents aged 65 or above across seven districts with rapidly ageing populations. Among […]
A Greenpeace survey reveals that 78% of low-income elderly residents in Hong Kong have experienced heat-related distress, particularly during a record-breaking heatwave in 2026. The survey, which polled 127 individuals aged 65 or above across seven districts with rapidly aging populations, found that 78.7% reported experiencing at least one form of heat-related discomfort affecting their health, mood, or sleep.
Over 70% of elderly residents also tended to underestimate heat-related health risks, believing they would not suffer from heatstroke if they stayed at home. The survey highlights the vulnerability of this demographic to rising temperatures, with more than half of respondents living in public rental flats and 35.4% residing in inadequate housing.
The findings underscore the heightened risk of heatstroke among the elderly, with hospital discharges and deaths related to heatstroke among patients aged 65 or above rising 16-fold from 2015 to 2024.
Brief written by urgent.news from Hong Kong Free Press's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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