Leader: Piermarco Aroldi (UNICATT); Other collaborator(s): Luca Corazzini (UNIMIB)
Estimate the key factors that foster civic engagement and help to enhance culture, environment and territory in the face of an ageing society. Generate a map of key drivers of awareness of seniors relative to the importance of adopting and promoting consumer behavior and private investments that foster a sustainable development.
Brief description of the activities and of the intermediate results:
Key activities according to the relevance of older adults’ generations regarding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the Agenda 2030 in terms of potential recipients of interventions on the agenda and potential agents of change (or otherwise). Five sub-sequent steps starting from a literature review, identifying potential stakeholder, implementing the delphi methodology and conducting data collection and analysis and concluding with framework development and desiderable output delivery. The research team has concentrated on the initial phases of their project by establishing a foundational framework. This preliminary effort involved an extensive review of literature and studies concerning older adults, covering various topics such as: Their awareness and views on "sustainability" and sustainable development, The significance of education, The effects of sustainable practices and activism on senior well-being, Community engagement, Civic participation, Consumption behaviors. The team focused on identifying and involving crucial stakeholders for the Delphi method, including members from the senior community, pertinent government bodies, NGOs, academic entities, and other relevant groups.
Main policy, industrial and scientific implications
Key insights. Awareness and opinions on the topic of "sustainability" among the senior. Most respondents grasp sustainability's holistic aspects, emphasizing environmental conservation and social equity. Younger individuals prioritize climate action and health, while those over 50 focus on marine and terrestrial ecosystem conservation. Older individuals emphasize the importance of environmental care and behavior, highlighting the effectiveness of environmental education in activating seniors towards conservation efforts. The impact of sustainable behaviors on the well-being of the senior. Air pollution heightens anxiety among seniors, reducing social interaction, while high environmental literacy boosts green practices and community selfgovernance, enhancing senior well-being through sustainable development. Sustainable behaviors and activism: Older individuals attribute climate change responsibility to governments, industry, and individuals, with some also citing divine influence, emphasizing the need for proactive environmental behaviors over activism. Consumption behaviors. In Italy, older individuals engage in sustainable food consumption and recycling, while younger people are more linked to energy-saving and sustainable mobility; seniors aged 60-75 recognize their economic influence through consumption and believe they can drive sustainable development, particularly in food, household, and mobility sectors. Given this framework, the team’s research activities aim at producing a Toolkit for Active and Sustainable Aging. To deliver this output, after the preparatory phase of these months, the team will conduct a survey to provide the data base to formulate the informative checklist to provide a list of raccommendations for older adults. The checklist will include questions concerning themes of the five main areas that expand on the 14 goals of the 2030 agenda i.e. regarding: inequalities, well-being, resources, innovation and participation.
Brief description of the activities and of the intermediate results:
1. Preliminary evidence on seniors' awareness of sustainability and their role in community building: seniors prioritize environmental care, focusing on marine and terrestrial conservation. Air pollution affects the well-being of older people, reducing social interaction, but high environmental literacy promotes green practices. They attribute climate change responsibility to governments and advocate for proactive environmental behaviors.
2. Consumption patterns show that seniors favour sustainable food and recycling (while younger generations focus on energy-saving and mobility).
3. Many seniors lack awareness of demographic trends.
4. Design of a prototype toolkit for Active and Sustainable Aging, emphasizing education and engagement across generations (also in relation to Spoke 7)
Brief description of the activities and of the intermediate results:
The team has completed the second phase of the Delphi process, which involved a broad interdisciplinary panel of experts. In this phase, fundamental data were collected to further refine the checklist for Active and Sustainable Aging. The methodology allowed for the consolidation of consensus on key issues such as reducing inequalities, improving well-being, adopting technological innovations, and strengthening the active participation of older adults in political and social decision-making. Preliminary results showed the growing importance of digital skills and environmental literacy for the well-being of older adults.
In line with the recommendations that emerged from the Delphi process, the team has defined the structure of the Toolkit, divided into five main areas (inequalities, well-being, resources, innovation, and participation), which will be tested in the next phase of the national survey. The Toolkit aims to provide practical recommendations to local policymakers, based on the needs and preferences expressed by the older adults involved in the research.
The team is finalizing the questionnaire for a national survey involving the 60-74 age group, with the goal of collecting quantitative data on sustainable consumption patterns, civic participation, and perceptions of inequalities. The survey will provide the empirical foundation to conclude the Delphi project and produce concrete results for the implementation of sustainability-oriented local policies.
Preparations are underway for presenting the final results during a series of public and academic events in the coming months, with the goal of engaging the research community, policymakers, and civil society organizations in the debate on sustainable aging.
Main Policy, Industrial, and Scientific Implications
The checklist for Active and Sustainable Aging provides local policymakers with practical, evidence-based recommendations for integrating older adults into sustainability strategies. It addresses key areas such as reducing inequalities, improving well-being, promoting digital skills, and ensuring environmental literacy. These findings support the design of policies aimed at enhancing the civic participation of older adults, improving their quality of life, and promoting intergenerational equity. The research reinforces the need for inclusive policymaking that acknowledges older adults as active contributors to sustainable development.
The project's focus on digital literacy and technological innovations highlights opportunities for industries, particularly in the tech and healthcare sectors, to cater to the growing needs of an ageing population. By emphasizing the role of assistive technologies and digital health solutions, industries can develop products and services that enhance older adults' independence, improve their access to healthcare, and foster social engagement. This can stimulate innovation in products designed for an ageing demographic, creating new market opportunities.
The Delphi methodology and subsequent national survey provide a robust foundation for understanding the intersection of ageing, sustainability, and civic engagement. The research contributes to scientific knowledge by highlighting the importance of digital skills and environmental literacy in improving the well-being of older adults. Additionally, the project sheds light on the evolving consumption patterns and social behaviors of older generations, providing a framework for future interdisciplinary research in ageing studies, sustainability, and public health. This research could serve as a reference for further studies aimed at exploring the role of older adults in achieving global sustainability goals.
Brief description of the activities and of the intermediate results:
During this period, the project advanced significantly in: (1) constructing a sustainability checklist tailored for an aging society, aligned with the SDGs of the 2030 Agenda. Key activities included: A Delphi panel involving experts from various fields, including sociology and environmental sciences, was conducted in two rounds. The method facilitated consensus-building on the critical dimensions and indicators of sustainability for an aging society. Round 1: Experts provided open-ended feedback on proposed sustainability dimensions, including environmental, social, and economic aspects. Round 2: Structured questionnaires were distributed to refine and prioritize indicators based on the feedback from Round 1. Round 3: Refining and Finalizing the Sustainability Checklist; (2) Designing a Questionnaire to measure older adults' propensity for sustainable consumption and life style. Recognizing the critical role of individual behavior in achieving sustainability goals, the project also developed a questionnaire targeting older adults to evaluate their attitudes, preferences, and practices regarding sustainable consumption.
Main Policy, Industrial, and Scientific Implications
Using the insights gained from the Delphi process, a draft version of the sustainability checklist was developed. The checklist includes measurable indicators for areas such as urban accessibility, intergenerational equity, and sustainable healthcare systems.
Dissemination Events:
Scientific Outputs: