Eight European academies of sciences published a joint statement on demographic change in Europe, in which they urge policymakers to consider how longer working lives demand new, flexible life-course patterns. Also, the academies emphasize that Governments and institutions will need to plan for changes in population against a backdrop of climate change and shortages in natural resources.
Ursula M. Staudinger, Speaker of the task force, said: “Demographic change takes place in all of Europe, but at a different pace and met by differing levels of preparedness. We should use Europe’s diversity and immense cultural capacity to increase productivity and to adapt to resource constraints.”