Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – A square open to all, to discuss climate change, starting with people's safety, local experiences, and available solutions. On Saturday, December 5th, from 12:30 pm to sunset, Piazza del Popolo in Rome will host La Terra chiamò, the national demonstration created to bring the climate crisis back to the center of public debate.
'La Terra chiamò' is promoted by ASviS, Fondazione Symbola, Future Food Institute, Greenpeace Italia, Kyoto Club, Legambiente, Marevivo, Venice Climate Week and WWF Italia, with the support of Green Heroes.
Four demands will be launched from Piazza del Popolo: bring climate back to the top of the political agenda, recognizing the climate crisis as a matter of national security; accelerate mitigation by abandoning fossil fuels, increasing production from renewable sources, and reducing emissions; accelerate adaptation by protecting the land, sea, and people most exposed to the impacts of a changing climate; and apply the "polluter pays" principle, calling on fossil fuel companies to contribute to financing the transition and adaptation policies.
In the coming weeks, the associations involved will work to consolidate the demands into a shared manifesto to present to the government and Italian political forces.
The square will open at 12:30 PM, with a welcome reception, family area, and activities. From 2:30 PM, the stage will host presentations, starting with testimonies from those who have experienced the effects of summer 2026: those who farm, those who work outdoors, those who care for land, those who manage the land, and those who respond to emergencies.
Scientific presentations will follow, along with the experiences of the younger generations and the local communities, until the gathering at sunset. Music, art, and culture will accompany the entire day, which will conclude with the reading of the event's demands. The choice of December 5th commemorates two international observances: World Soil Day, promoted by the FAO, and the United Nations International Volunteer Day.
"When we talk about climate change, we're talking about people's lives. This past summer taught us that we can't wait any longer, that adapting to an already changed climate must happen now," says Riccardo Luna, journalist and curator of Venice Climate Week. For Giulio Lo Iacono, secretary general of ASviS, "the value of this event is bringing together different realities in one place, united by the desire to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time." "This past summer has highlighted the climate crisis. It is urgent to bring it back to the top of the political agenda and accelerate the green transition," emphasizes Ermete Realacci, president of the Symbola Foundation. "The green economy is the best response to the crises we are experiencing."
For Sara Roversi, president of the Future Food Institute and Ambassador for the European Climate Pact, "food is our most essential need: protecting it must be a political priority. We can't talk about the future of the planet without addressing those who produce our food, those who preserve biodiversity, and those who can no longer afford healthy food. The climate crisis is also a crisis of social justice and of our food systems."
"Young people are taking to the streets around the world to demand climate justice, so we have a responsibility not to look the other way, avoiding dismissing their demands as mere youthful utopias," explains Letizia Magaldi, president of Kyoto Club. "Our uniqueness, as a forward-looking business community, lies in the decisive role that the most innovative companies can and must play in this process." "We ask governments to stop protecting the interests of oil companies and accelerate the phase-out of fossil fuels: accessible clean energy, more livable cities, protected territories," says Alessandro Giannì, Head of Institutional and Scientific Relations at Greenpeace Italy.
"The fight against the climate crisis is unfortunately not at the center of the national and regional political agenda," says Stefano Ciafani, national president of Legambiente. "We need to accelerate the construction of renewable energy plants, storage facilities, and networks, the electrification of transportation and construction, the diffusion of zero-emission innovation in agriculture and industry, and increased efficiency. Financial resources are also essential to implement the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan."
"We see the forests burning, but we don't see the sea burning. Yet it's happening," says Raffaella Giugni, Marevivo Secretary General. "In fact, it absorbs over 90% of the excess heat caused by global warming. This summer, the Mediterranean reached peak temperatures of over 28°C; it's a sign of global change that's close to home."
According to Gaetano Benedetto, vice president of WWF Italy, "without action to address the causes and mitigate the effects of climate change, the economic, health, and social risks will grow, and we will soon have to address the issue of climate refugees." "Climate change is addressed locally, where mayors and communities experience its consequences every day. But no mayor, community, or citizen can do it alone," adds Stefano Pisani, mayor of Pollica and Ambassador for the European Climate Pact.
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