Sustainable Ageing

There is an ongoing debate, within and outside academia, about population ageing and its economic, political and environmental sustainability.

But how can societies ensure ageing well for all? How do technologies shape a new ageing society? What is the role of social and inter-generational relationships within and beyond the family to age well? Which links exist between ageing and climate change? And what policies can be implemented to guarantee sustainable ageing?

The Working Group on Sustainable Ageing aims to focus on these overarching questions, analysing the potentials and the challenges of ageing at the individual, family,and society levels.The outputs will be discussed vis-à-vis their policy implications in a comparative perspective across European countries but also in an intersectional approach that accounts for variables such as gender and socio-economic status.

The Working Group also aims to favour a debate on Sustainable Ageing between researchers, stakeholders (e.g. NGOs) and policy makers.

Organisation

The activities of the group are coordinated by a Steering Committee formed by Valeria Bordone (University of Vienna, Austria), Bruno Arpino (University of Padua, Italy), and Pearl Dykstra (Erasmus University, The Netherlands).

As a main activity, we plan to meet every two years in a pre-conference workshop at the European Population Conference. In between EPCs, in-person or on-line workshops will be organised. All EAPS members as well as scholars from other disciplines who work on aspects related to sustainable ageing may join the Working Group and participate in its events. Representatives of NGOs and other organisations are also welcome to attend. Joining the group’s events usually is free of charge while participants are expected to cover their own travel and related costs. In addition to the EAPS communication channels, events organised by this working group will be announced via a mailing list maintained by the steering committee and through social media.

This group is also actively collaborating with Population Europe and the Joint Programming Initiative More Years, Better Lives (JPI MYBL), which will facilitate dissemination of activities and involvements of stakeholders and policy makers. For information, contact the members of the Steering Committee.

Members

Giorgio di Gessa (UCL, UK), Emily Grundy (University of Essex, UK), Hans Hämäläinen (University of Turku, Finland), Karsten Hank (University of Cologne, Germany), Luule Sakkeus (Tallinn University, Estonia), Elizabeth Wilkins (INED, France)

Events

Highlights from the 1^st International Conference of the Sustainable Ageing EAPS Working Group

Padua, 11-12 September 2025

The 1^st International Conference of the Sustainable Ageing EAPS Working Group held at the University of Padua on 11-12 September 2025, brought together leading scholars from across Europe and beyond to discuss how ageing, care, digitalisation, work and social participation as well as environmental challenges intersect in shaping well-being over the life course and across generations.

Organised by Bruno Arpino (University of Padua) and Valeria Bordone (University of Vienna), the event fostered vibrant exchanges among researchers in demography, gerontology, sociology, and other social sciences. Over two half-days, participants explored the theme of “Ageing well for all” through five scientific sessions, a keynote lecture, and an engaging poster session showcasing emerging research.

Opening and Programme Overview

The conference opened with welcoming remarks by Bruno Arpino and Valeria Bordone, who highlighted the need for interdisciplinary perspectives on ageing and sustainability in a rapidly changing world.

Five thematic sessions followed, covering:

Caregiving – exploring intergenerational transfers of care, the effects of informal care on well-being, and inequalities in healthcare access during and after the COVID-19 pandemic;

Digitalisation and Digital Divides – addressing how digital skills and infrastructure affect inclusion, participation, and the use of e-government services among older adults across Europe;

Health and Well-being – investigating the interplay between gender, cognition, health inequalities, and future projections of disability in ageing populations;

Climate Change and Environmental Influences – examining the vulnerability of older adults to environmental stressors and their attitudes toward sustainability and intergenerational responsibility;

Work, Social Participation, and Leisure – analysing how work transitions, time allocation, and intergenerational family dynamics affect satisfaction and health in later life.

Each session featured four to five presentations and insightful discussant contributions, ensuring lively debate and synthesis of key findings.

Keynote Lecture

A highlight of the event was the Keynote Lecture by Professor Pearl Dykstra (Erasmus University Rotterdam), titled “An Intergenerational Family Perspective on Sustainable Ageing.”
Her talk underscored how interdependencies across generations—within families and societies—shape opportunities for ageing well and achieving sustainability. Dykstra called for a renewed focus on policies that support reciprocity and solidarity between generations.

Poster Session

A dynamic poster session and light lunch concluded the conference, featuring research from institutions across Europe. Topics ranged from resilience and frailty to environmental attitudes, grandparenthood, and digital inclusion. The poster session provided a lively forum for exchange and networking.

Acknowledgements

The atmosphere throughout the conference was stimulating, with participants praising the scientific quality and organisation. Discussions extended well beyond the sessions—over coffee breaks, the social dinner at Caffè Pedrocchi, and informal gatherings in Padua’s historic city centre.

The organisers express their sincere thanks to all presenters, discussants, and chairs, as well as to the Scientific Committee and EAPS for their invaluable contributions to the success of the conference.

Looking Ahead

The conference reaffirmed the importance of combining demographic, sociological, and policy perspectives to promote sustainable ageing for all generations. The insights shared in Padua will continue to inform collaborative research and policy dialogue in the years ahead.

Opening session – Arpino & Bordone introducing the conference and the concept of Sustainable Ageing

Past events

The first event of the Sustainable Ageing Working Group has been a workshop organized as a side meeting at the European Population Conference (EPC) 2024 in Edinburgh on 12 June 2024 at 15:00-16:30.

The event began with an introduction to the group and its aims, followed by a keynote talk by Raya Muttarak on population ageing and climate change and a short input-talks on intergenerational relationships, technological change, and on making sense of science for policy. The event concluded with a group discussion and a brainstorming on collaborations for the study of sustainable ageing.

Steering Committee

Valeria Bordone (valeria.bordone@univie.ac.at)

University of Vienna, Austria

Bruno Arpino (bruno.arpino@unipd.it)

University of Padua, Italy

Pearl Dykstra (dykstra@essb.eur.nl)

Erasmus University, The Netherlands