Age-Friendly Environments (AFE-INNOVNET)

Europe is rapidly ageing. According to Eurostat data, between 2010 and 2060, the number of people over 65 will grow from 17,4% to almost 30% of the total population. Therefore, today’s urgency is to find sustainable solutions to empower people to live healthily, actively and independently for longer. 

To face this challenge, AFE-INNOVNET, AGE-Platform and CEMR launched the Covenant on Demographic Change, during a conference on 7 December at the Committee of the Regions. The Covenant will gather local and regional governments, as well as all interested bodies (national governments, private sector, universities, etc.) committed to support active and healthy ageing and contribute to increase the healthy life expectancy, enhance independent living and well-being of older persons. 

CEMR was represented in the conference by the Councillor of Warwickshire and member of CEMR’s UK association (LGA), Isobel Seccombe: “It is incredibly important that we, as local and regional government, make older people feel valued by enlisting their help in designing how we shape our local places and spaces and how we deliver our services to become age-friendly environments,” said Cllr Seccombe during her intervention.

To this aim, towns and regions can, for instance, encourage SMEs in implementing innovative healthcare solutions or provide better lighting in public parks. “We can also influence how the private sector and the media view, value and support our current older and future older generations,” added Cllr Seccombe.

To date 46 local and regional governments have already decided to join the Covenant. They will benefit from a wide range of opportunities for mutual learning and partnership, various tools to implement and assess the impact of their age-friendly initiatives.

Useful information

You can join the Covenant on demographic change by filling the official form.
For further information send and email to nhu.tram@ccre-cemr.org. 
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