Developing Climate Resilient Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: A Place-based Approach

Background: The climate emergency, including the increased frequency of extreme weather events (e.g., flooding, heatwaves and storms), pose new challenges for the health and wellbeing of older people, compromising their ability to age in place. In response, there is a critical need to explore how we build climate resilience into the design and planning of cities and communities. Importance and Originality: The WHO age-friendly cities and communities (AFCCs) movement has focused on developing environments that encourage active ageing by optimising opportunities for health, participation, and security to enhance quality of life in old age. However, there has been little articulation of what healthy ageing means in the context of extreme weather events or what specific place-based interventions are needed at a city and community level to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather on older people. Objective: We will present findings from a UKRI funded project entitled Healthy Ageing in Place: Co-Designing Inclusive Climate Resilient Age friendly Cities and Communities, which explored the barriers and opportunities to delivering inclusive climate resilient AFCCs. Methods: The research captured experiences of older people, policymakers and practitioners via a range of qualitative research methods including policy mapping events, knowledge café and codesign workshops. Main results: We draw upon specific themes emerging from the research including: housing and home, health and social care, civic participation and volunteering, social infrastructure, mobility and outdoor spaces, information and communication, and intergenerational communities. Implications for research and practice/policy: The paper will highlight recommendations for the future direction of the AFCC agenda including specific policy and practice interventions aimed at building climate resilient communities and cities to support healthy ageing-in-place.