In this book chapter, co-authors from two UK-based projects reflect on how creative and participatory methods were used to gather and share ideas for co-designing environments which are climate resilient and age-friendly.
Making space for conversations between generations and involving older people in climate change adaptation efforts promotes resilient communities.
The escalating impacts of climate change present increased challenges for the health and wellbeing of older populations. Two projects – Healthy Ageing in a Changing Climate (HACC) and Understanding Older and younger people’s PercepTions and Imaginaries of Climate Change (OPTIC) – worked with people in different parts of the UK to understand older people’s perspectives on climate change and to co-design more inclusive, resilient and sustainable spaces.
The projects used creative, participatory and intergenerational approaches. The OPTIC project led to the co-creation of a comic book of climate change stories, while the HACC project used deliberative dialogue events to identify how environments could be made more resilient for ageing populations in the light of extreme weather events.
The research gathered from the OPTIC and HACC projects highlighted that the knowledges, practices and imaginaries of older generations are vital in designing sustainable, equitable environments; climate change design need not be limited to new, groundbreaking inventions. Facilitating conversations to share these lessons offers a straightforward way to co-create much-needed climate resilience interventions.
SEI brief / This brief argues that greater understanding about the needs of various stages of life is needed to create policies that can promote sustainable consumption.
Journal article / Older persons have a vital role in shaping responses to climate change and building a sustainable future.
Other publication / Researchers identified six key areas for inclusive action and made detailed policy recommendations based on their work with older people in the UK.
