<< Background >>DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE IS A REALITY IN EUROPE: According to Eurostat, in 2019, people aged 55 years or older accounted for just over one third (33.6 %) of the total EU-27 population. The share of this age group (55+) will increase in each of the 27 EU Member States and is projected to reach 40.6 % by 2050. For example, by 2050, those aged 55 years or more are predicted to account for 45.9 % of the population in Italy, and for more than 45.0 % in Lithuania, Portugal, Greece and Latvia [14]. Moreover, between 2019 and 2050, the number of very old people in the EU-27 is projected to more than double, up 113.9 %. To give some idea of the magnitude of this change, the number of people aged 85 years or more is projected to increase from 12.5 million in 2019 to 26.8 million by 2050, while the number of centenarians (people aged 100 years or more) is projected to grow from 96 600 in 2019 to close to half a million (484 000) by 2050. At the same time, ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE are key priorities globally, and in Europe. Without action on climate change, in the next decades we will face a potential 5°C temperature increase and experience thousands of premature deaths due to air pollution and heatwaves [1]. As such, the EU is committed to A GREEN TRANSITION TOWARDS A CARBON NEUTRAL SOCIETY by 2050 that must also be an INCLUSIVE AND JUST TRANSITION. Durable changes in citizens’ behaviours towards more sustainable and healthier habits are needed to achieve this. A fundamental cultural shift and EDUCATION IS CRUCIAL TO ENSURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICIES TO CREATE CARBON NEUTRAL SOCIETIES. While youngsters are possibly the most well positioned to create such transformation due to the extended adoption of internet and social media, adults 55+ are harder to reach as they tend to have less internet access [3] and fewer digital skills, knowledge and confidence [6]. Moreover, MOST CLIMATE-RELATED ISSUES ARE FAR FROM MANY OLDER ADULTS’ AWARENESS. Yet, many older adults are open to learn more and change their behaviour towards more environment-friendly patterns. Given that OLDER ADULTS MAKE UP A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE EU POPULATION (33.6% are 55+ and 20% older than 65) [5] their participation in sustainable behaviours is crucial to ACHIEVE A GREEN TRANSITION. Hence, the GreenerAge project will CO-CREATE TARGETED INTERVENTIONS that tackle CLIMATE CHANGE LITERACY AND ENVIRONMENTAL TRAINING and awareness while also INCREASING DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE through a GAMIFIED DIGITAL PLATFORM. The use of playful digital tools can be an effective means to address societal challenges and provoke change in the target group, aiming to provoke improvements in lifestyles and consumption decisions that secure a higher quality of life and protect the environment. Older adults will for example learn to lower their carbon footprint, opt for sustainable food and mobility choices, reduce energy use and waste. Overall, the project will meet the NEED FOR INFORMATION ABOUT EVERYDAY ENVIRONMENT-AND CLIMATE-FRIENDLY ACTIONS, through accessible and inclusive digital communication and technology tools that ALSO MEETS THE NEED TO INCREASE DIGITAL LITERACY OF OLDER ADULTS through unique and especially developed virtual activities in learning and cooperation. This way older adults’ are included in both the digitisation shift as well as being part of the necessary green transition towards carbon neutral societies. At the heart of the GreenerAge platform are the Erasmus+ HORIZONTAL PRIORITIES OF ENVIRONMENT AND FIGHTING AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE and INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY. THE LEARNERS WILL ALSO DEVELOP MORE ADVANCED DIGITAL SKILLS and the project PROMOTES ERASMUS+ among EU citizens and stakeholders in five EU countries (Finland, Germany, The Netherlands, Poland and Portugal).<< Objectives >>The GreenerAge Project plans for significant contributions to the mission of the Green Deal call to “USE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION TO KICK-START THE ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATIONS REQUIRED TO TACKLE THE CLIMATE CHALLENGE”. However, we cannot achieve a green transition in European societies when excluding adults 55+ given that they constitute over one third of the European population and may be the hardest to reach. Hence, the GreenerAge project will CO-CREATE TARGETED INTERVENTIONS that tackle CLIMATE CHANGE LITERACY AND ENVIRONMENTAL TRAINING and awareness while also INCREASING DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE through a GAMIFIED DIGITAL PLATFORM for older adults. THE OVERALL GREENERAGE PROJECT OBJECTIVES ARE: (1)ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE: #INCREASING ENVIRONMENTAL SKILLS OF CITIZENS 55+ through informal gamified learning strategies and tools, co-developing a compendium of knowledge and practices that promote changing behaviour and values necessary to achieve a carbon-neutral society. #PROMOTE FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY AND UPTAKE OF GREENERAGE TOOLS AND MATERIALS, by developing a set of recommendations for adult trainers, policy makers and relevant organisations. (2)DIGITAL SKILLS AND COMPETENCES: #BROADENING ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE AND USER-FRIENDLY TOOLS, co-developed with the target groups to create a step-change in environmental literacy via the usage of a new inclusive digital gamification platform. (3)BRIDGING INTERCULTURAL, INTERGENERATIONAL DIVIDE:#INCREASING CAPACITY AND INCLUSIVITY OF ADULT EDUCATORS to provide low-threshold and highly adaptable training of environmentally-friendly practices through the development of an inclusive gamified training toolkit adjustable to online, face to face and blended training, bridging the intergenerational digital and climate literacy divide. (4)EXPECTED IMPACT: ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY is an individual’s understanding, skills and motivation to make responsible decisions that consider his/her relationships to natural systems, communities and future generations here and abroad. Increased climate and environmental literacy. COMBINED WITH IMPROVED DIGITAL SKILLS, the GreenerAge project will empower older citizens to adopt healthier behaviours for themselves and the planet, promote a more active citizenship with other citizens in other EU countries and their intergenerational cooperation, influencing their family members, neighbours and friends. This will support the HORIZONTAL PRIORITY OF ‘ENVIRONMENT AND FIGHTING AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE’ and ‘INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY’ by enhancing older citizens’ DIGITAL SKILLS. ERASMUS+ will also be PROMOTED among EU citizens and stakeholders. (5)UNIQUELY, THE PARTNER’S PREVIOUSLY GAINED EXPERTISE WILL BE BROUGHT TOGETHER AND EXPANDED WITH THE GREENERAGE PROJECT, providing some partners with important insights on the lives of 55+ citizens and how to best approach them, and others will expand their knowledge of climate change and environmental issues and of gamified approaches. Through their experiences from past projects synergy effects can be achieved while learning from colleagues. THE COMBINATION OF THE PROJECT'S KEY FOCUS AREAS– EDUCATION THROUGH THE DIGITAL GAMING APPROACH, AND CO-PRODUCTION AND EMPOWERMENT OF ADULTS IN CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES – IS INNOVATIVE FOR ALL PARTNERS and allows existing educational approaches to be expanded.<< Implementation >>THE GREENERAGE PROJECT IS RELIANT ON A TRANSNATIONAL APPROACH as we all COMBINE OUR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE to make the difference needed TO OFFER GENUINE EUROPEAN ADDED VALUE. Cooperation with transnational partners in the GreenerAge Project bring benefits to organisations, cities, regions, and ultimately citizens all across Europe, through the impact of its outputs that will span across FIVE COUNTRIES AND CULTURES and in SIX LANGUAGES, with different CITIZEN TESTIMONIALS AND PERSPECTIVES. GreenerAge transnational cooperation relies on BUILDING TRUST ACROSS BORDERS AND FOSTERING European integration for a more inclusive Europe by sharing similar cross-cultural challenges such as climate change and environmental issues, while facing different local implementations and structures. THE GREENERAGE PROJECT EMPLOYS THE PRINCIPLES OF CO-CREATION AND CO-PRODUCTION as a way of working whereby citizens and decision makers work together to create a COMMON solution or service. The APPROACH IS VALUE DRIVEN and built on the principle that THOSE WHO USE A SERVICE ARE THE BEST PLACED TO HELP DESIGN IT. A LIVING LABORATORY will be created for developing and testing new ways of addressing major challenges together with local citizens in each partner country. The transnational aspect of the project will allow us to develop TAILOR-MADE SOLUTIONS which require strategic international partnerships and it will PROMOTE ERASMUS+ AMONG ALL CITIZENS AND GENERATIONS (ADULT PRIORITY). THESE PRINCIPLES ARE AT THE HEART OF THE FOUR MAIN PROJECT RESULTS (PR) THAT WILL BE DEVELOPED: #PR1: 55+ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE LITERACY COMPENDIUM#PR2: 55+DIGITAL GAMIFICATION LEARNING PLATFORM ‘GREENERAGE’#PR3: 55+ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE LITERACY TRAINER MANUAL#PR4: GREENERAGE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS #SUMMARY OF OTHER ACTIVITIES: (1)The project contributes to the EMPOWERMENT OF CITIZENS 55+ towards the adoption of more environmentally-friendly habits and behaviours by means of gaining new knowledge and motivation to make change through a learning platform. At the end of the project, 75 to 100 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TARGET GROUP in five countries will have been involved in the development of the platform through interviews or workshop attendance. (2)THERE WILL BE FIVE TRANSNATIONAL MEETINGS and FIVE MULTIPLIER EVENTS in each country. AT LEAST 200 STAKEHOLDERS (policy makers, national and European representatives from environmental, digital or ageing related initiatives) will be directly targeted and involved in MULTIPLIER EVENTS and workshops. As a result of the efforts to raise awareness about the learning platform, it is expected that AT LEAST 200 LEARNERS will have used it during the two months between the MULTIPLIER EVENTS and the completion of the project. (3)AS PART OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION, a QUALITY ASSURANCE (QA) GROUP will be established and a QA PLAN, a RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN, SHARING AND PROMOTION PLAN and LONGER-TERM SUSTAINABILITY PLAN will be developed from the early stages of the project and dynamically updated. During the lifetime of the project, the public and other stakeholders at local, regional, national and European level will have been regularly informed in a targeted way by NEWSLETTERS, LEAFLETS, PERSONAL CONSULTATIONS, SOCIAL MEDIA AND PRESS RELEASES etc. (4)REGULAR COMMUNICATION among partners and an open, outcome-oriented working atmosphere. (5)WE WILL ALSO ESTABLISH A LOCAL ASSOCIATED PARTNERS GROUP in each country, who will consist of key stakeholders taking part in project activities, co-development of Project Results and take part in MULTIPLIER EVENTS. (See Support letters and Associated Partners Section). Associated Partners will also support SHARING AND PROMOTION ACTIVITIES and the long-term SUSTAINABILITY of the GreenerAge project through dissemination of results in their organisations and networks, as well as uptake of the Project Results in their daily activities after project ending.<< Results >>The GreenerAge project aims to INCREASE GREATER ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE AWARENESS, including leveraging existing validated tools and methods (e.g. air pollution exposure, mobility decision support, more sustainable consumption patterns, personal environmental footprint calculations etc.) by DESIGNING A DIGITAL PLATFORM targeted at older adults’ environmental and digital literacy. THE CITIZENS OVER 55 YEARS OF AGE ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF THE ACTIVITIES: they will play a major role in the development of all of the Project Results (PR), alongside other stakeholders (e.g. trainers, associations, policy-makers). These older adults will be invited to participate in the interviews and the co-design workshops. In this respect, THE PROJECT WILL DELIVER FOUR MAIN PROJECT RESULTS (PR): #PR1: 55+ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE LITERACY COMPENDIUM: in PR1 (led by TAU), we will co-develop an environment and climate change compendium and tools with experts and citizens, including interviews and testimonials from them across the five partner countries to create a concerted approach of environmental and digital literacy needs and gaps in the partner countries for adults 55+. This will be based on evidence-based knowledge. #PR2: 55+DIGITAL GAMIFICATION LEARNING PLATFORM ‘GREENERAGE’: PR2 (led by SHINE) will develop an INCLUSIVE AND INTERACTIVE (gamified) LEARNING PLATFORM to enhance digital and environmental literacy. It will co-create a simple and attractive interface that combines all of the compendium content, tools and training contents and PROVEN GAMIFICATION STRATEGIES TO INFLUENCE BEHAVIOURS. These interfaces will be developed jointly with citizens from the target group, to gain access to the experiences and views of the people concerned and experience and test options for successful low threshold and inclusive learning in each partner country. #PR3: 55+ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE LITERACY TRAINER MANUAL: With the compendium and digital gaming platform being established, PR3 (led by ISIS) will develop a TRAINER MANUAL to accompany the learning platform and compendium, WITH BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE AND WORKSHOP CONCEPTS for the materials and a guide FOR ADULT EDUCATORS. #PR4: GREENERAGE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS: in PR4 (led by AFE) a set of policy recommendations will be addressed to the EU, relevant organisations and local policy makers, WITH GUIDELINES FOR ACTION, background knowledge and further data for using the full training and learning toolkit at scale. #OTHER OUTCOMES include INTANGIBLE RESULTS and include: (1)KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE GAINED by the project team, participants, or other stakeholders. (2)EXPERIENCE AND NETWORKS GAINED in the MULTIPLIER EVENTS, consultation activities, etc (3)INCREASED SKILLS OR ACHIEVEMENTS in environmental issues, climate-change and digital skills. (4)LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY AND REAL-LIFE IMPACT is another desired outcome of the project. This is supported by the successful SHARING AND PROMOTION of the results and uptake of the PRs by different stakeholders in their everyday practices after project ending. IN SUMMARY, the GreenerAge project AIMS TO CREATE A LOW-THRESHOLD AND PLAYFUL ACCESS TO AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND DIGITAL LITERACY ENVIRONMENT, PROMOTING A SELF-REFLECTIVE, POSITIVE AND EMPOWERING EXAMINATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATIC ISSUES. Ensuring inclusive participation it meets essential needs of the target groups, the HORIZONTAL priorities and the project partners’ needs and missions. Its Project Results will be of high value for their work and future exploitation as well as further collaboration, supporting the LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY of the GreenerAge project.