Seniors are a group that is particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change. They tend to spend a lot of time in open, green spaces; hence the decreasing amount of these areas affects them in a significant way. In a long-term perspective, climate change can exacerbate circulatory diseases and breathing issues among the elderly. Research from the Central Statistical Office of Poland shows that seniors constitute 25% of the Polish society, and by the year 2050 they group will grow to 40%. Additionally, the research done by the Ministry of the Environment showed that many Poles have no knowledge of how their actions affect the climate.

We will conduct a series of civic debates on ways to activate seniors and to alert them to the dangers of climate change in three participating municipalities with particularly strong aging trends. We will involve other citizens into the debates, which will develop local collaboration between different generations. The recommendations for the local government, seniors and other institutions working for the elderly will be presented to a broader audience during a public hearing with experts, local authorities, and media. Each municipality will have its Local Senior Activity Agenda for Climate that will be shared with local authorities and senior aid institutions. We will create an info brochure for seniors on how to behave when there is a weather advisory in place. We will also conduct workshops on green spaces management, after which seniors and other citizens will plant trees and other plants in their neighborhoods.

The National Institute of Senior Economy Foundation is our partner. It will support us with its breath of knowledge and experience in working with the elderly.