The TRANSFORM project investigates how civil society actors drive change towards transformative environmental governance across local, national, and international levels with a focus on Italy. The actions of different kinds of citizens' groups can challenge the current forms and norms of environmental governance: by enacting innovative change themselves (‘by doing’), through making demands for change at multiple levels (‘by demanding’), and through combinations of both. The case studies from the TRANSFORM project will unpack how and where change unfolds and support civil society to push for change through its findings.
A working paper on the conceptual approach to the project is available to download from this page (downloads' section).
Research Team
- Louisa Parks - University of Trento, SIS
- Bartek Goldmann, University of Trento, SIS
- Emanuela Bozzini - University of Trento
- Lorenzo Zamponi - SNS
- Lorenzo Bosi - SNS
Institutions involved in the Project
- School of International Studies, University of Trento
- Scuola Normale Superiore (SNS)
Case studies at the School of International Studies
Insorgiamo ex-GKN, Florence (Local, Doing)
The mobilization of the former workers of the GKN factory in Campi Bisenzio, Florence illustrates an ongoing experiment in local transformative action ‘by doing’, where collective action at the local level creates new possibilities for reindustrialization and sustainable production. The GKN struggle began in 2021 after the factory’s sudden closure by its owner, Melrose Industries, leading to 400 layoffs. This crisis catalyzed collective action, leading to the workers’ occupation of the factory, which aimed not only at reclaiming workers’ jobs but also at reimagining the factory’s role in the broader ecological transition. It exemplifies the convergence of labour and climate justice movements in Italy, highlighting the push for a socially and environmentally just transition in the context of factory closure, layoffs, and reindustrialization efforts. The Collettivo di Fabbrica (Factory Collective) played a pivotal role in leading the mobilization, operating independently of traditional trade unions like FIOM-CGIL, which continued engaging in institutional negotiations. The Collettivo’s bottom-up approach, based on activating relationships at the local and national levels with civil society actors, including Fridays for Future (FFF), ARCI, ANPI, and student organizations. The potential of labour struggles to converge with broader social and environmental justice movements represents a critical pathway for driving transformative change from below (Gabbriellini et al., 2024). The GKN case underscores the importance of fostering solidarity networks, where labor disputes are not isolated but integrated into a wider political landscape of collective struggle against both capitalist exploitation and environmental degradation (Cini, 2023). One of the Collective’s core strategies has been the development of a comprehensive reindustrialization plan, devised together with a Solidarity Research Group, aiming to convert the factory into a public hub for sustainable mobility. The vision entailed producing eco-friendly goods such as cargo bikes and photovoltaic panels, emphasizing the need for a "just transition" that prioritizes worker rights, environmental sustainability, and community well-being. The plan also called for greater public ownership and democratic control of production, positioning GKN as a model of radical industrial democracy grounded in environmental sustainability and social justice (Feltrin & Leonardi, 2023). This approach highlights the movement’s focus on transformative change that integrates ecological concerns with labor issues, rejecting the traditional "jobs versus environment" dichotomy. The mobilization illustrates that coalition-building, strategic alliances, and a clear vision for ecological and social justice can drive grassroots-led transitions in the absence of top-down institutional support. The movement has framed its struggle not just as a fight for jobs but as a broader battle for a just ecological transition that challenges capitalist models of ownership and production.
Simulation Citizen Assembly, Trento (Local, Demanding)
The Simulation of the Citizens’ Climate Assembly (CA) in Trento, held in June 2024, serves as an exemplary case of transformative change by demanding, where ordinary citizens came together to deliberate and propose policy solutions for local environmental issues. Organized through a collaboration between the local science museum MUSE, the municipality of Trento, and various civic actors such as Extinction Rebellion (XR), this assembly sought to model how bottom-up participatory processes can influence policy-making for climate action, focusing on three themes: sustainable mobility, energy, and the management of green space. Throughout three days of deliberation, participants received input from scientific experts and local climate networks, gaining deeper insights into the challenges and potential solutions related to these topics. The discussions led to the creation of ten key recommendations for local policy, which included promoting public transportation through subsidized tickets, expanding safe cycling routes, encouraging renewable energy use, and improving the design of urban spaces to reduce carbon emissions. One key outcome of the assembly was the emphasis on the importance of community engagement in decision-making, with participants highlighting the value of sustained communication between the municipality and citizens, calling for better public awareness and participation in sustainability efforts. The recommendations, approved by a 75% majority of the participants, have since been forwarded to the local government, where they are expected to shape future policy initiatives in Trento. This simulation is not only significant for its immediate policy proposals but also for its methodological implications. The CA illustrates how local participatory and deliberative processes can enhance democratic legitimacy and efficacy by allowing citizens to propose actionable solutions to address climate issues. The next phase of the project will assess the extent to which these recommendations are adopted and implemented by policymakers, providing insights into the political impacts of citizens' assemblies as innovative participatory instruments. It also reflects on how these assemblies may generate transformative environmental governance through citizen-driven demands.
Convention on Biological Diversity (International)
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) offers a valuable case for examining the impacts of activism and advocacy in international environmental governance. In particular, this case study focuses on Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities’ (IPLCs’) efforts to drive transformative environmental change through unique frames and actions within the CBD, including how calls for direct participation, recognition of traditional knowledge, and unmediated funding are reflected—or resisted—in CBD decisions. Drawing from interviews, analyses of policy documents, and observations at events like COP16, this study aims to identify both the opportunities and constraints IPLCs encounter when engaging with the CBD, as well as how the CBD has historically constructed its view of IPLCs’ role. Ultimately, this work will reveal the extent to which IPLCs have influenced biodiversity policies and what this means for environmental governance at large. During COP16, IPLCs and allied civil society organizations voiced a range of demands addressing their rights, roles, and the structural barriers within the CBD. Foremost among these has been the establishment of a permanent subsidiary body dedicated to Article 8j, ensuring a consistent mechanism for including the voices of IPLCs in decision-making. A major call was also made for direct, unmediated funding mechanisms for IPLCs, bypassing national intermediaries to allow local actors greater agency in biodiversity projects. Several groups advocated for the recognition of indigenous knowledge as equal to scientific knowledge, underscoring the need to incorporate cultural and spiritual values into biodiversity frameworks. Additionally, calls for legal recognition of IPLC land rights and protections against corporate resource exploitation highlighted the need for enhanced transparency and accountability within the CBD. Groups like the Indigenous Women’s Network emphasized integrating gender perspectives in CBD policies, while others argued for community-led conservation strategies and ecosystem-based approaches to climate resilience. Lastly, IPLC delegates underscored the importance of ethical guidelines in research involving indigenous communities, as well as safeguards for intellectual property rights. This constellation of demands showcases the broad spectrum of transformative change sought by IPLCs within the CBD, reflecting a holistic approach to environmental justice that links biodiversity with social, cultural, and political rights.
Funding
European Union – Next Generation EU, in the framework of PRIN 2022 PNRR Call, project “Driving Transformative Environmental Governance (TRANSFORM)” (P2022R3NKJ) - CUP E53D23019390001.
