The main results of the project in question consist of the recommendations to the government stated in the section above (Section 4.3.2) regarding why and how they should support the voluntary work of senior climate activists, and how Nordic cooperation in these matters can be strengthened and maintained.
In the presentations and discussions at the project's seminar (cf. Section 4,) it was evident how much seniors actually have to offer in terms of climate issues, as these people have a lot of accumulated knowledge and experience, plus they generally have more free time and are better off financially than younger volunteers. By involving seniors in voluntary work in climate matters, people's quality of life is also being improved, both mentally and physically. The physical side is strengthened in all kinds of projects, including protests, and people feel better mentally if they use their time to do something that makes the world a better place for future generations. In this work, people can also make use of their education, even if they are retired. All of this contributes to the improvement of the public health of seniors, and thus helps to reduce costs in the healthcare system.
The participants in the seminar agreed that there is a basis for a Nordic collaboration network for older climate activists. The groups could learn a lot from each other, and in addition, groups and organisations are always stronger together than individually. It can be assumed that it is very motivating for people in groups and organisations of this type to have the opportunity to get to know the work of others in a similar field. Among other things therefore, a Nordic collaboration network could be very suitable to support this work. It could offer online meetings and courses, and ways to keep in touch and carry out joint projects.
The project as a whole, and the seminar in particular, created a platform for networking. It ignited conversations about new cooperation possibilities, and the participants were inspired by each other. Email communication following the seminar, revealed that preparations has begun for the establishment of "Bedsteforældrenes Klimaaktion" in the Faroe Islands. A group of seniors in Iceland has also met to discuss the possible establishment of a formal or informal organisation for that purpose, and to that end have received a presentation from the project manager of the project in question.
In all the groups that operated at the project's seminar, the opinion was expressed that the governments should see older people as a resource and not as a burden. The utilisation of this important resource would be beneficial, both for the governments and seniors in the Nordic countries.
It is interesting to note the difference in the focus of seniors' organisations in the Nordic countries, but the different environs, size, and location of the countries presumably have a great influence on which issues are considered the most important in each country. There is also a significant difference in the size of groups and organisations, but this difference seems largely independent of the population of the country in question. In Sweden, for example, there are more small groups than in Norway, where large organisations are at the forefront.
Even though little information was found about the climate work of seniors in Greenland and Åland, it may well be that some such activity exists in these areas. The reason for the lack of such organisations or groups could be due to those being sparsely populated areas or having a small population. It is clear that the participation of representatives from the Faroe Islands in the seminar described in this report has encouraged further collaboration of seniors in the Faroe Islands in the field of climate issues. The same can be said about Iceland, where discussions of this nature continued after the seminar.
The most important messages of the project can be summarised as follows:
The number of older people in the Nordic countries is increasing. Currently, around 15–23% of the Nordic nations are over 65 years old, and a large generation is approaching retirement age. This generation will likely change what retirement looks like. The life expectancy of these groups is higher than that of previous generations, their level of education is higher, and their health is arguably better than that of many previous generations. The needs of these groups for activity and successful aging will be different than before, and the ability to use new technologies in communication will be greater than ever. In addition to this, people of this age generally have more free time and are better off financially than younger people.
Senior climate volunteer work is beneficial in its own right, because participation in such work keeps people active and thereby improves their physical and mental health. This will presumably result in lower costs for the healthcare system.
The volunteer work of seniors in climate matters is advantageous for the government of the relevant country, as this group is a valuable source of knowledge and experience that the government can use in climate-related policy formulation and decision-making. This resource can even be translated into money, since knowledge is generally neither unlimited nor free.
Senior climate volunteer work is beneficial for the climate, as it is likely to contribute to lower greenhouse gas emissions and a reduced need for adaptation actions in the years to come. A better climate and a better standard of living for future generations are actually synonymous. It is likely that this powerful work of seniors in climate matters will lead to lower expenses than otherwise in the coming years and decades.
The points above are the main reasons why the government should support the voluntary work of seniors in climate matters.