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The climate crisis affects everyone, but its impact is most severe on those living in low and middle-income countries, despite contributing the least to its causes.
Nearly 90% of the world’s youth and 68% of older people living in these regions. They face pronounced vulnerability to extreme weather events like cyclones, flooding, droughts, and heatwaves.
Older people possess valuable knowledge and skills to contribute positively to climate action, from grassroots adaptation efforts to global advocacy for climate justice.
Contrastingly, while young people are frequently depicted as proactive in combating the climate crisis, they often encounter barriers to decision-making at community, national, and global levels. Additionally, they may be unfairly seen solely as victims, while older generations are blamed for endangering their futures.
Between August 2023 and March 2024, HelpAge International, Restless Development, and a researcher from Newcastle University’s Living Deltas Hub collaborated on a pilot project to explore the effectiveness of an intergenerational approach in supporting locally led responses to the climate crisis.
In Nepal and Uganda, local partners and facilitators organised dialogues in rural and urban settings, enabling both younger and older people to share their experiences of climate change, coping strategies, and ideas for future action. The approach was guided by an emphasis on meaningful participation and respecting diverse experiences, while acknowledging power dynamics.
Watch this video to know more about our project to bring younger and older generations together to share their experiences of climate change in Nepal and Uganda.
The project revealed the need to move beyond simplistic narratives of age in relation to the climate crisis. Urgency demands that different generations unite their power and potential for the collective wellbeing of people and the planet. Working together across ages can make our response to the climate crisis stronger, recognising its impact on all age groups, present and future.
Access the learning document here.
An inclusive, intergenerational response is the only way to address the climate crisis that will define the lives of every person of every age over the next century.
Building on the success of the pilot, HelpAge is keen to have a multi-country programme to foster intergenerational collaboration in climate action. This initiative will facilitate partnerships between young and older generations, aiming to magnify impact at local, national, and international levels. Central to our strategy is stakeholder engagement and effective communication, seeking support from governmental and non-governmental agencies and donors.
