What is an intergenerational dialogue?

An Intergenerational Dialogue let us connect and listen to one another and nature with empathy. It provides a space for a constructive exchange, where we can share our experiences, perspectives, issues, knowledge, values, and visions while engaging with the past, present, and future, as well as the natural world. In this space, everyone should feel equal and safe, free from external pressure, and empowered to imagine possible futures that are fairer for all.

The dialogue builds on these three pillars:

• A structured engagement that connects people of different age. The dialogue aims to move away from conflict between age groups and promote mutual inclusion and shared responsibility. It views generations not as fundamentally divided and in competition but as interconnected lives. By bridging them, the dialogue strives to overcome inequality and let everyone's voice be heard in decision-making. 
• A bridge across time. The dialogue expands the engagement beyond present generations living today to include paste generations no longer alive and future generations not yet born. These generations are seen as “hinges” that connect the past to the future, making it possible to transfer knowledge, memory, decision-making power, and ecological values across time. In this way, the lessons of past generations can guide our future decisions and future generations can inspire us to take action today for a fairer tomorrow. 
• A relation with the living world. The dialogue is more than a conversation between humans alone. The plants, animals, soils and waters of a place have intrinsic value, independent of the use we make of them. If a decision changes their conditions of life, they are parties to that decision. The dialogue therefore goes to where they are, and gathers the scientific, local and traditional knowledge held about them. In the gatherings, people are chosen to speak for particular beings with whom they have spent time. 

A true intergenerational dialogue therefore includes the following participants: 

• Past generations: We acknowledge their collective heritage, legacy, and traumas. 
• Present generations: We include citizens of all ages living today and let them share their different needs, perspectives, and visions. 
• Future generations: We protect the ability of people not yet born not just to survive but to flourish and pursue their own interests. 
• The living world: We treat the animals, plants, fungi, soils and waters of a place as parties affected by our decisions, and we name who speaks for them.