The Role Of Baby Boomers In Combating Climate Change
The idea that boomers are “failing to accept the truth” and reality of climate change causes many baby boomers’ grandchildren in America to “hate” them (Stromberg, 2019). The name of their generation was even associated with ‘OK, boomer’ – a pejorative expression described by McGinn (2019) as “the perfect response to a generation that failed on climate. ” Others argued that the boomers are also the ones in the government and are more monetarily dependable but are not using those potentials to combat climate change. This has created a discourse between the Baby Boomers and the Generation Z with regards to climate change.
According to Kasasa (a financial and technology services company), the generation of baby boomers is experiencing the highest growth in student loan debt, and it can be explained by the fact that this generation has the most wealth (Kasasa. com, 2019). If we look at countries like America, we probably can say that the boomers are the ones who “hold power and are more financially secure” (Gulapa, Kurata, Lopez, Maledeo, & Naranjo, 2019) than the other generations who flourished after them. But if we consider countries like the Philippines, we can see that the situation is different from what the boomers are experiencing in countries like America, and that the abovementioned notion is not justifiable. Baby boomers in countries like Philippines, and in general, do not have that political power and money as believed by many. So, is it reasonable to demand for more actions from baby boomers through their power and money in combating climate change? Should the baby boomers be held accountable for the “future”?
Post-World War II, Americans were enjoying new-found prosperity, which resulted in a 'baby boom'(Kasasa, 2019). As a result, the children born between 1944 and 1964 were dubbed the Baby boomers (Kasasa, 2019). As of today, their ages range from 55-75. Meaning most of them are already seniors, aged 60 and above.
In the Philippines, the number of older people is increasing rapidly, faster than growth in the total population. In 2000, there were 4. 6 million senior citizens (60 years or older), representing about 6% of the total population. In two decades, this has grown to 9. 4 million older people or about 8. 6% of the total population. (AgeingAsia. org, 2019)
According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), a nearly a third (31. 4%) (in 2000) or an estimate of 1. 3 million older people (in the current year) were living in poverty (AgeingAsia. org, 2019). This is in contrast with the idea that boomers are financially secure. Studies have shown that the ages between 25 to 40 years are the most productive periods in a person’s life, where he or she is able to work efficiently, earn respectable wages and contribute to the national economy (Palabrica, 2019). In 2000, only more than half of older people (57. 1%) were employed, wherein majority of those employed (41%) were involved in primary economic activities such as farming, forestry work and fishing (AgeingAsia. org, 2019). Furthermore, according to the latest World Social Protection Report 2017-19, just 39. 8% of people older than the statutory pensionable age in the Philippines receive an old-age pension (contributory, noncontributory or both) (AgeingAsia. org, 2019).
After a decade, those boomers aged 55-65 today will succeed their fellow boomers in the age group of 60 and above. By 2032, the Philippines will transition to an ageing society according to a study of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) (Rappler. com, 2019). This means that by 2032, the elderly, or those aged 65 and older, would comprise at least 7% of the total population (Rappler. com, 2019). By that time, the boomers will be the ones to need medical services and pension. Only few can obtain employment.
From the preceding statistics, we can clearly see that there is a disparity with the belief of the younger generations that the boomers are economically and politically powerful. So, we cannot say that they have the power and the money to combat climate change. We cannot demand actions from them in those terms. We cannot reject the fact that they could really be less active in battling climate change as they age, coming into the situation where they could lose their jobs and acquire diseases.
Now, should they be accountable for the future? Experts reckon that the planet is currently on the path to warm 3 degrees Celsius or quite a bit more by 2100 (Stromberg, 2019). By this year, the boomers are probably all dead. Meaning, they won’t have to experience the wrath of nature. But this does not mean that they should not worry about climate change, or that they should not accept the reality. They have their grandchildren who will probably experience the dreadful effects of climate change. And by disregarding this phenomenon and not acting towards it, “reverence” would not probably be the word that will come to the mind of their children and grandchildren as they look back at the boomer legacy (Stromberg, 2019). Do the boomers want to leave the world with a bad legacy? Do they want their children and grandchildren to suffer from climate change?
With the situations of the boomers today, we really cannot demand so much from them. My point is that, they really are not accountable for this alone. The issue of climate change is not only for them to worry about. It has to be everybody’s concern. But at the very least, the boomers should recognize this life-threatening phenomenon. They may not have the presupposed power and money, but they should not undermine the situation. When it comes to political and economic power, the Gen X and Gen Y are primarily the generations who are mostly in the position in governments and have work. On the other hand, Gen Z who are “financially insecure” but have “cyberspace as the most accessible platform” (Gulapa et al. , 2019) should continue raising climate change awareness in cyberspace. But they should not limit themselves in this space. They can do actions in the real world, not just in social media spaces.
Climate change is real, and as “the greatest self-imposed long-term threat facing humanity”(Stromberg, 2019), we should all be working to combat it. There is no need to compare initiatives, to tell what your generation has done, or what others did not. Why don’t we just cooperate with one another? The future is on everybody’s hands.
