Founded in 2014 with a Swiss-German branch established in Zurich in 2019, the association brings together older adults to secure a habitable planet for future generations. Regional representatives Thea Rauch from the Zurich section and Manfred Knausz from the Solothurn section note that membership does not require having grandchildren, focusing instead on broader civic responsibility for ecological renewal.
Grands-parents pour le climat Mobilizes Swiss Seniors to Address Alpine Climate Crisis
Political Action and Regional Policy Wins in Solothurn and Zurich
Members of the association have directly influenced local governance through targeted advocacy and public awareness work. According to Manfred Knausz, the Solothurn section successfully lobbied the Grand Council to adopt a climate emergency state into cantonal law following intensive informational campaigns. Meanwhile, the Zurich section focuses on practical daily interventions, such as organizing secondhand clothing exchanges that draw dozens of participants and prominent local figures like municipal councillor Andreas Hauri, as detailed by Thea Rauch.
Challenging Overshoot Day and Promoting Sustainable Tourism
The Zurich section coordinates annual informational meetings surrounding Swiss Overshoot Day, which marks the date when the country exhausts its resource allocation for the year. According to Thea Rauch, the upcoming Swiss Overshoot Day falls on May 11, 2026, prompting the Zurich group to launch specific public actions addressing sustainable tourism and methods to identify greenwashing in the travel industry. These initiatives aim to shift consumer habits regarding resource consumption without enforcing rigid dogmatic rules.
Bridging Intergenerational Divides Through Lived Experience
The movement emphasizes educational outreach, with members regularly visiting schools to demonstrate historical, low-consumption lifestyles that predate modern fast-fashion and single-use packaging. Manfred Knausz notes that collaborating with younger climate activists fosters mutual patience and long-term perspective. Both Rauch and Knausz stress that engaging grandchildren in daily choices—such as selecting non-lighted shoes or recycled school bags—allows seniors to pass on environmental values through accessible, non-moralizing daily conversations.
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