Earth Day Med – Mediterranean Climate Festival

Earth Day Med, Palermo's climate capital

Earth Day Med – Mediterranean Climate Festival is the event that transforms Palermo into the hub of Euro-Mediterranean environmental debate every spring. Promoted by the Fondazione Studio Rizoma, the festival brings together scholars, activists, artists, students, and institutional representatives for several days to tackle the great challenges of the Mediterranean: climate crisis, energy transition, food security, water management, social justice, and international cooperation.

A festival spread across the city

The heart of the event is the Teatro Garibaldi, located in the Kalsa district, but Earth Day Med is a widespread festival that invites the public to explore areas of Palermo and its surroundings that are usually inaccessible: from the Cala harbor to Monte Gallo, from the historic gardens of the Piana di Ciaculli to the Pollina river. Panels, conferences, film screenings, concerts, workshops, and ecological walks make up a multidisciplinary program that intertwines science, art, and activism.

Themes and protagonists

Each edition focuses on the concept of a just transition and the Mediterranean as a key player in global climate policies. The festival hosts internationally renowned voices in ecological and feminist thought, academics from the University of Palermo and its Center for Sustainability and Ecological Transition, as well as networks from the ECCO think tank, the Heinrich Böll Foundation, and EStà. Through panels on water and its democratic management, botanical walks led by experts, workshops on Mediterranean gastronomy, and children's labs, Earth Day Med offers a concrete and participatory approach to the climate issue.

Palermo and the Mediterranean

The choice of Palermo, a bridge city between Europe and Africa, is no coincidence: the Sicilian capital aims to become a permanent laboratory for climate dialogue between the shores of the Mediterranean. The final day, organized in collaboration with the ECCO think tank, is dedicated to the path leading from the Mediterranean basin to international climate summits, featuring the presentation of a Manifesto to strengthen the area's strategic role in the fight against climate change. The festival is held under the patronage of the Municipality of Palermo and the Union for the Mediterranean.

A landmark event for Sicily

Part of Sicily's cultural calendar, Earth Day Med is one of the main environmental events in Southern Italy, blending scientific rigor, artistic experimentation, and civic engagement. It is an opportunity for citizens, students, and visitors to experience Palermo from a new perspective and actively participate in the debate on the Mediterranean's climate future.