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Global Head of Analytics, Sustainable Fitch Member of the Scientific Committee – ESG, Sustainable Finance and Impact Evaluation Gianluca Spinetti is Global Head of Analytics at Sustainable Fitch, where he leads a global analytical team operating across multiple sustainability-related products, including research, ESG ratings and scores, Second Party Opinions, and transition assessments. He is also responsible for the development of new products and methodologies. He joined Fitch Ratings in 2018 as Senior Director. Prior to that, he spent over thirteen years in capital markets, structuring transactions for financial institutions and corporates, including sustainable finance transactions. Gianluca is a member of several working groups on sustainable finance and has been a speaker at numerous events organized by the Association of Corporate Treasurers, banking associations, university and master’s programmes, and the Financial Times (“Investing for Good”), among others. He holds a BSc and MSc in Finance from Bocconi University in Milan. Within the European University Festival 2026, he serves as Member of the Scientific Committee in the area of ESG, Sustainable Finance and Impact Evaluation.

Climate change is one of the most complex challenges of our time, not only environmentally, but also humanly. In this video, Joshua Freedman (Six Seconds), member of the European University Festival Scientific Committee, highlights how emotions play a central role in people’s ability to remain engaged and active in the face of an ongoing crisis with no clear endpoint. Recent research shows that approaches based on sharing, emotional expression, and collaboration can significantly reduce climate anxiety, isolation, and feelings of powerlessness. Emotions are not simply reactions: they are signals of what matters and essential tools for building a sustainable future.

Starting from this awareness, Chef Igles Corelli developed his Circular Cuisine: an approach that values every ingredient in its entirety, eliminating waste and respecting the land that nourishes us. But sustainability cannot be achieved alone. It requires research, innovation, technology — and above all, collaboration. We are proud to have Chef Igles Corelli as a member of the Scientific Committee for Sustainable Food Systems at the European University Festival. Today more than ever, we need the brightest young minds to develop solutions to global challenges. Bringing together universities, institutions, industry, and professionals is the only way to build a sustainable future. “Let’s write together the menu of our future.” — Igles Corelli Member of the Scientific Committee Sustainable Food Systems

The European University Festival wishes to express its sincere and profound gratitude to the Italian National Commission for UNESCO for granting its patronage to the initiative, recognizing its cultural, scientific, and international value. This important recognition represents for us a strong sense of responsibility and an additional motivation to continue building a European platform capable of bringing together universities, research, institutions, and new generations . The Festival aims to promote dialogue, cooperation, and innovation on key issues for the future of humanity, starting with climate change , by highlighting the concrete contribution of the academic world. We welcome this patronage with gratitude and with a clear awareness of the importance of the path we have undertaken, strengthening our commitment to developing an increasingly authoritative, inclusive, and impact-driven project.

The European University Festival is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Gabriele Carofiglio to its Scientific Committee . An environmental biologist, science teacher, and representative for the city of Bari, Dr. Carofiglio brings to the Festival extensive experience in education and science communication, with a strong focus on environmental sustainability. Graduated with honors in Environmental Biology and licensed as a professional biologist, he has collaborated with leading institutions such as ARPA Puglia , COISPA Tecnologia e Ricerca , and the University of Bari . He also serves as a regional coordinator for Plastic Free , a partner of the European University Festival and an international organization committed to combating plastic pollution and raising environmental awareness. His participation will further strengthen the scientific value of the Festival, with particular attention to environmental protection and climate change.

The European University Festival 2026 is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Plastic Free Odv Onlus , a leading volunteer organization committed to environmental protection and the prevention of plastic pollution. Signed in Brussels on 17 February 2026, the agreement recognizes Plastic Free as an Institutional Partner of the Festival , reinforcing the 2026 edition’s commitment — dedicated to “Europe and Climate Change” — to concrete action in the protection of marine ecosystems MOU - Festival EU - Plastic Free Under this collaboration: Plastic Free joins the Project Verification Committee for the macro category “Science & Marine Impact” MOU - Festival EU - Plastic Free It will participate in the technical and environmental assessment of submitted projects MOU - Festival EU - Plastic Free It will contribute to defining verification criteria related to marine ecosystem protection MOU - Festival EU - Plastic Free The Festival, to be held in Turin from 21 to 24 May 2026 under the High Patronage of the European Parliament MOU - Festival EU - Plastic Free, continues to strengthen its role as a European platform where universities, institutions, and civil society collaborate to develop measurable and impactful climate solutions. This partnership further enhances the scientific credibility and operational depth of the Festival’s mission: transforming climate dialogue into verifiable environmental action. #EuropeanUniversityFestival #ClimateAction #PlasticFree #EU2026 #Sustainability

The European University Festival is honored to announce the appointment of Dr. Federico Belli , Judge at the Court of Appeal of Turin and currently seconded to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg , to its Scientific Committee for the 2026 edition. Dr. Belli’s distinguished judicial career within the Italian Court of Appeal and his service at the European Court of Human Rights—one of the foremost supranational judicial institutions dedicated to the protection of fundamental freedoms—represent an exceptional contribution to the Festival’s intellectual and institutional framework. His expertise in the field of human rights law and his direct engagement with the jurisprudence of the Strasbourg Court reinforce the Festival’s commitment to fostering a high-level dialogue between academia, European institutions, and global civil society. At a time when the defense of human dignity, democratic principles, and the rule of law stands at the center of the European project, his presence within the Scientific Committee carries particular significance. The European University Festival, held under the High Patronage of the European Parliament, continues to consolidate its role as a premier international platform where universities, institutions, and leading global figures collaborate to address the defining challenges of our time. With this appointment, the Scientific Committee is further strengthened by a jurist of international standing, embodying the values and responsibilities that shape Europe’s legal and moral architecture.

The European Commission has formally initiated the process that will define the climate and energy policy framework for the period beyond 2030. The discussion concerns several key elements of the European regulatory architecture, including: The potential use of international carbon credits The review of national climate targets The evolution of the Effort Sharing and LULUCF frameworks The pathway toward climate neutrality by 2050 Two public consultations have been opened to collect contributions from institutions, businesses, universities, and civil society. The Context of the European University Festival 2026 The European University Festival 2026, dedicated to the theme “Europe and Climate Change,” takes note of these ongoing European processes and provides an academic and cultural platform for dialogue. Through the University Climate Manifesto and the presentation of academic projects in the fields of science, arts, and sustainability, the Festival aims to facilitate discussion among universities, institutions, and stakeholders. The Festival does not take policy positions but encourages evidence-based dialogue and academic contribution within the broader European framework. #EuropeanUniversityFestival #Europe #ClimatePolicy #ClimateChange #GreenTransition #ClimateNeutrality #EuropeanUniversities

We are pleased to announce that Professor Katinka Bellomo, Associate Professor at the University of Padova and Lead Author of the upcoming IPCC AR7 Report, has joined the Scientific Committee of the European University Festival. Her research focuses on climatology and the dynamics of the climate system, with particular attention to climate variability, extreme events, tipping points, and ocean–atmosphere interactions in the context of global climate change. Thanks to her distinguished scientific expertise and her contribution to the international climate debate, Professor Bellomo strengthens the scientific profile of the Festival, supporting its vision of a structured dialogue between research, institutions, and society, aimed at developing concrete solutions for climate adaptation and resilience. #EuropeanUniversityFestival #ScientificCommittee #ClimateScience #IPCC #IPCCAR7 #ClimateChange #ClimateAction #Sustainability #Research #ClimateResilience #Academia #UniversityLeadership

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Filippo Giorgi to the Scientific Committee of the European University Festival. Professor Filippo Giorgi is a climatologist of internationally recognized standing and is Professor Emeritus at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste. His scientific work has focused primarily on climate modeling and the study of climate change and its impacts, with a particular contribution to regional climate modeling, a field in which he is considered one of the pioneers. He is the author of over 400 scientific publications and contributed to the first five Assessment Reports of the IPCC. From 2002 to 2008, he served as Vice-Chair of IPCC Working Group I, the organization that was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Previously, he conducted research at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, USA. He is a member of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei and the Istituto Veneto di Lettere, Scienze e Arti.

Professor Carlo Carraro is an internationally recognized climate scientist and a leading expert on climate change. He is a contributor to the Nobel Prize–winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and has played a key role in advancing climate science at the global level. His research focuses on climate modeling , regional climate change , and the impacts of climate variability , with a particular emphasis on the Mediterranean region. Professor Carraro scientific work has significantly contributed to the understanding of climate dynamics and to the development of informed climate policies. #EuropeanUniversityFestival #ClimateChange #IPCC #Sustainability #EuropeanResearch #Science

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Virna Meccia to the Scientific Committee of the European University Festival. Dr. Meccia is a researcher at the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate of the Italian National Research Council (ISAC-CNR) . Her scientific activity focuses on the dynamics and variability of the climate system, with particular attention to the role of the oceans in shaping climate, through the use of climate modelling. She is the author of numerous international scientific publications in the fields of climatology and physical oceanography and is a Lead Author of the forthcoming IPCC Assessment Report . Through her contribution, Dr. Meccia will support the Scientific Committee of the Festival in the evaluation of university projects dedicated to the study of climate change, bringing her scientific expertise and experience to the service of the academic community.