As part of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network Annual Meeting, city leaders, urban planners, youth networks and public health experts gathered for a dedicated stakeholder engagement session to shape the forthcoming WHO European Strategy on Ageing is Living: Promoting a Lifetime of Health and Well-being (2026–2030).
The “Local Action for Healthy Ageing” session brought together over 35 city representatives to reflect on and rank more than 25 proposed actions for the Strategy spanning prevention, integrated care, age-friendly environments and challenging ageism.
Live digital voting enabled participants to identify the most relevant and feasible actions from a local perspective. Priorities included expanding national and local age-friendly initiatives, improving access to early screening, delivering multidisciplinary care close to home, addressing elder abuse, creating inclusive public spaces, and promoting more representative communication around ageing. These top-ranked actions reflected both the practical needs of communities and the vital role of subnational authorities in implementing meaningful change.
Geoff Green, Emeritus Professor of Urban Policy at Sheffield Hallam University, moderated the session. He reflected, “Cities are the engines of transformation. Their proximity to people’s everyday lives makes them uniquely positioned to lead bold, practical action for healthy ageing.”
The session also featured a dynamic implementation discussion led by Josep Jansa, Director of Surveillance and Health Promotion at the Public Health Agency of Barcelona. Cities shared experiences in aligning their local strategies with regional goals, including efforts to embed ageing considerations in housing, transport and neighbourhood design.
Youth voices were also present. Luka Delak from WHO's Youth4Health network emphasized that creating environments where people can age with dignity requires collaboration across generations.
“This session highlighted how local leadership, when connected to a shared regional vision, can help build healthier, more inclusive environments for everyone, now and in the future,” said Yongjie Yon, Technical Officer on Ageing and Health at WHO/Europe.
WHO/Europe will continue engaging with city and community leaders to co-develop the Strategy and ensure it reflects the realities and ambitions of those working closest to people’s lives.