SustAge – Integrating green and grey transition

SustAge addresses two policy trends in the sectors of health and energy – i.e. home healthcare services (HHCSs) and renewable energy communities (RECs), respectively –, in light of the UN SDGs and from the perspective of local governance. It investigates how the provision of HHCSs may be shaped to pursue both social inclusion and green transition. It centers on two European countries’ territorial dimensions which show similar demographic trends but different local governance solutions under the same international commitments. In this respect, SustAge aims to investigate the possible role of RECs in mitigating the energy impact and maximizing the social impact of active ageing-related homecare services in rural and/or mountain areas of Piedmont, Landes and Atlantic Pyrenees.

SustAge meets undergoing efforts by governments to fight climate change will impact the way sustainable development is pursued in its economic and social dimensions. At an international level, States are called to pursue the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) featuring ‘affordable and clean energy’ alongside ‘no poverty’ as well as ‘healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages’. The integration of climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning is set as a specific target. Within the context of the European Union (EU), the pursuit of a high level of environmental protection is a horizontal objective across all policies and actions of the EU and its Member States. Moreover, the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment has been emerging as one of the most relevant “third generation” human rights, within the UN and the Council of Europe. In this respect, an individual right to (sustainable) energy might be the next frontier.

Current active ageing policies promote ‘age in place’ through the provision of home care services. However, the domiciliation of care in rural and mountain areas faces peculiar challenges as elderly persons represent a large part of the population but access to medical infrastructure and quality healthcare may be limited. Moreover, as a vulnerable category from a human rights approach, elderly persons are exposed to energy poverty, with limited possibility of energy consumption at home.