Older persons are among those most affected by climate change, facing heightened risks to health, livelihoods, food security, water access, and social protection. Yet also invaluable custodians of indigenous knowledge, caregivers, and community leaders whose knowledge and lived experience are essential to building climate-resilient communities.
The Older People-Led Local Climate Adaptation Planning Workshop brought together SAG partners and NGOs from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Mozambique to strengthen approaches to older people-led climate adaptation. Through cross-country learning, practical tools, partner experiences, and implementation planning, we explored how to strengthen climate risk assessments, community-led adaptation planning, micro-pilot initiatives, evidence generation, and engagement with local governments to ensure older persons are meaningfully included in climate action.
A key focus of the workshop was the role of Older People’s Associations (OPAs) as vital links between communities and local government systems in identifying older people most at risk from climate change, assessing local vulnerabilities, mobilizing community-led adaptation actions, documenting climate impacts, and advocating for inclusive planning, budgeting, and accountability. We also explored the OPA-led adaptation pathway, which guides communities through assessing climate risks, prioritizing actions based on urgency and equity, implementing locally appropriate solutions, documenting results, and using evidence to influence local development plans, public budgets, and investment in climate adaptation.