Palermo International Intensive Programme 2026
Palermo International Intensive Programme 2026
Climate Action in Metropolitan Areas
11–17 November 2026
PALERMO, ITALY
Department of Architecture, University of Palermo
Viale delle Scienze, Building 14, Room 4.6
Climate Action
in Metropolitan Areas
11–17 November 2026
PALERMO, ITALY
Department of Architecture, University of Palermo
Viale delle Scienze, Building 14, Room 4.6
The first Cli-Met International Intensive Programme (IIP) will bring together students, researchers, practitioners and experts for an international and interdisciplinary learning experience focused on climate action at the metropolitan scale.
Through lectures, international case studies and field-based activities, participants will explore how metropolitan areas can translate international and European climate objectives into governance arrangements, planning strategies and local action.
30 hours
with credits recognition
5 days
11–13 and 16–17 Nov. 2026
Palermo
University of Palermo
English
Language of instruction
Participation
Fill out the registration form
About the Palermo IIP
The Palermo International Intensive Programme is the first of three IIPs organised within Cli-Met – Implementing the Climate Agenda in Metropolitan Areas, an Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership bringing together universities, metropolitan authorities and a European metropolitan network.
Designed as an international and interdisciplinary learning experience, the Palermo IIP will create opportunities for exchange between academic research, public administration and professional practice. Participants will engage with academics, public-sector experts and practitioners working across different dimensions of metropolitan climate action.
The programme combines theoretical perspectives, applied knowledge, international case studies and direct engagement with the Palermo metropolitan context.
Programme format
The programme comprises 30 hours over five teaching days, organised in two teaching blocks separated by the weekend.
11–13 NOVEMBER 2026
Three teaching days
14–15 NOVEMBER 2026
Weekend break
16–17 NOVEMBER 2026
Two teaching days
The programme will combine lectures, international case studies, exchanges with academics and practitioners, and field-based learning activities.
Activities are expected to run from 09:00 to 17:00 each day, including breaks, with approximately six hours of learning activities per day.
Travel arrangements costs are not included. TUDO and UPM students should contact their local coordinators (Karsten Zimmermann and Sonia De Gregorio Hurtado).
Lectures will be recorded and will contribute to the Cli-Met Digital Academy, extending the learning experience beyond the intensive programme and making selected educational content available through the project’s open-access learning resources.
Learning from European metropolitan areas
International case studies will complement the thematic lectures and provide opportunities to compare how different European metropolitan areas are responding to climate challenges through planning, policy and institutional innovation.
Experiences from Lisbon, Milan and İzmir, together with the Palermo metropolitan context, will connect broader climate objectives with concrete territorial challenges and practices.
İZMIR
LISBON
MILAN
What will we explore?
The programme will address key dimensions of climate action and sustainable development at the metropolitan scale.
Programme
(Click a day to expand)
11 November
09:00
Registration of participants
09:15 – 10:00
Welcome, institutional greetings and brief department tour
/ Valeria Floriano, Head of the International Relations Office, University of Palermo, Italy
/ Filippo Schilleci, Department of Architecture Delegate for International Affairs, University of Palermo, Italy
/ Domenica Sutera and Calogero Vinci, Delegates for the Department of Architecture scientific collections, University of Palermo, Italy
10:00 – 11:00
Climate change and the city: introduction to the Cli-Met project and the IIP
/ Ignazio Vinci, University of Palermo, Italy
11:00 – 11:30
Coffee Break
11:30 – 13:30
Climate change and urban resilience: from global impacts to sustainable stormwater management in urban areas
/ Dario Pumo, University of Palermo, Italy
/ Dario Treppiedi, University of Palermo, Italy
13:30 – 15:00
Lunch Break
15:00 – 17:00
Building and urban strategies to counteract climate change and enhance well-being
/ Rossella Corrao, University of Palermo, Italy
12 November
09:00
Registration of participants
09:00 – 11:00
Local climate action beyond carbon: urban regeneration for the ecological and just transition
/ Sonia De Gregorio Hurtado, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain
11:00 – 11:30
Coffee Break
11:30 – 13:30
Urban mobility and climate change mitigation
/ Gabriele D’Orso, University of Palermo, Italy
/ João Igreja, University of Palermo, Italy
13:30 – 15:00
Lunch Break
15:00 – 17:00
A layered approach to metropolitan climate adaptation in İzmir metropolitan area
/ Koray Velibeyoğlu, İzmir University of Economics, Türkiye
/ Çağlar Tükel, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, Türkiye
13 November
09:00
Registration of participants
09:00 – 11:00
Governance, planning and climate adaptation in city-regions
/ Karsten Zimmermann, Technical University of Dortmund, Germany
/ Patricia Feiertag, Technical University of Dortmund, Germany
11:00 – 11:30
Coffee Break
11:30 – 13:30
Exploring European Union Just Green transitions
/ Giancarlo Cotella, Polytechnic University of Turin, Italy
13:30 – 15:00
Lunch Break
15:00 – 17:00
Development and implementation of climate policies in a metropolitan authority in Italy: insights from the metropolitan area of Milan
/ Francesca Framba, Metropolitan City of Milan, Italy
16 November
09:00
Registration of participants
09:00 – 11:00
Climate adaptation and urban planning
/ Eugenio Morello, Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy
11:00 – 11:30
Coffee Break
11:30 – 13:30
The contribution of co-governance approaches to implementing the climate agenda: insights from Lisbon Metropolitan Area
/ Francesca Poggi, NOVA University of Lisbon, Portugal
13:30 – 15:00
Lunch Break
15:00 – 16:00
Climate experiments in Palermo
Climate Quilts: create, live, and research community gardens
/ Danielle Ronsivalle, University of Palermo, Italy
Who Cools the City?: social innovation and climate adaptation in Palermo’s neighbourhoods
/ Salvatore Di Dio, University of Palermo, Italy
16:00 – 17:00
Introduction to the study tour
/ Ignazio Vinci, University of Palermo, Italy
Environmental regeneration of the Oreto River mouth: an ongoing project
/ Giovanni Sarta, Deborah Spiaggia, Gesualdo Guarnieri and Fabio Di Piazza, Municipality of Palermo, Italy
17 November
Study Tour
10:00
Meeting point: Palermo Botanical Garden (Via Lincoln, 2)
10:00 – 12:00
First walk along the Foro Italico and Sant’Erasmo waterfront
12:00 – 13:00
Visit at Ecomuseo Mare Memoria Viva (MMV)
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch Break
15:00 – 16:00
Second walk along the Oreto river and Ponte dell’Ammiraglio
17:00
End of study tour: Palermo Central Station
Venue & Campus Map
The Palermo IIP will take place at the Department of Architecture, University of Palermo, within the Viale delle Scienze campus.
Building: 14
Floor: Fourth floor
Room: 4.6
Once on campus, follow the signs to Building 14. The teaching room is located on the fourth floor.
Who is it for?
The Intensive Programme is designed for an interdisciplinary audience, including:
- University students
- PhD students and early-career researchers
- Public-sector staff
- Architects, planners and other professionals
- Others interested in metropolitan climate action
Participation is free of charge. Activities will be held in English. Registration is open until 30 October 2026.
Credits recognition
University students
3 ECTS for full participation (30 hours)
0.5 ECTS per day (6 hours)
PhD students
6 ECTS for full participation (30 hours)
1 ECTS per day (6 hours)
Registration (is closed)
Registration is open! Deadline: 30 October 2026
Update: Registration is closed.
Participation is free of charge. Activities will be held in English.
Academic credit recognition may be available, subject to the applicable attendance requirements.
Coordination
Local Organising Committee
Ignazio Vinci · João Igreja · Pavlína Suchá
with support from the Cli-Met project team:
Karsten Zimmermann · Patricia Feiertag · Sonia De Gregorio Hurtado · Çağlar Tükel · Cinzia Davoli · Peter Agh · Viviana Rubbo
Stay updated!
The detailed programme, speakers and practical information will be published on this page as they are confirmed.
The Palermo IIP is organised within Cli-Met – Implementing the Climate Agenda in Metropolitan Areas, with contributions from project partners and invited experts from European universities, metropolitan authorities and organisations.
Hosted by the Department of Architecture, University of Palermo.
For questions, please contact:
Prof. Ignazio Vinci (ignazio.vinci@unipa.it)
Cli-Met Team (info@cli-met.eu)