Earth Day Med 2026

There is no better place than Palermo and Sicily to address all the complexities of the contemporary Mediterranean; thanks to its location at the heart of the basin, Sicily is the guardian of ancient cultures that have passed through the region over the centuries, and today serves as a haven for those fleeing conflict and poverty – conditions all too often exacerbated by climate change. Sicily today acts as a hinge between a global North and South that are growing ever further apart, with the Mediterranean serving as a tangible expression of this divide.

Why a Climate Festival in the Med?

At the crossroads of three continents – Europe, Africa and Asia – the wider Mediterranean region has been the cradle of Western civilisation. Over the millennia, favourable climatic conditions, trade flows and exchanges have forged a shared culture and sense of belonging. The countries are also united by the increasingly real threat of climate change. Rising temperatures, water scarcity and extreme drought, widespread wildfires, and rising sea levels – all with serious repercussions on economic growth, trade, and social and political stability – can contribute to complex phenomena such as mass migration, radicalisation, and even new conflicts. The region has in fact been defined as a climate hotspot, i.e. an area where the impacts of climate change are manifesting themselves more rapidly than in other parts of the planet.

Fondazione Studio Rizoma, in collaboration with Earth Day Med, has organised a festival with a distinct format that alternates between expert panels and public debates, alongside opportunities for play, learning, art, food performances and documentary films. The festival is aimed at a broad audience – including families, activists, students, civil society and institutions – and addresses key issues relating to climate change, from risk management to the ecological, energy and environmental sustainability transitions.

The Mediterranean Climate Festival – Earth Day Med

Earth Day Med aims to contribute to this collective effort by providing a space for dialogue to build a common voice for the Mediterranean. The event aims to bring together experts, activists and institutional representatives from the northern and southern shores of the basin to discuss shared solutions to common threats. Under the patronage of the Union for the Mediterranean, the event is part of a renewed commitment by Mediterranean countries to become active agents of transformation, working together to shape a safer and more prosperous future for all in the face of the climate threat.