From 22 to 24 March, three days to present the results and objectives in the Tuscan Archipelago. Partners from seven European countries. The University of Siena coordinates the entire project.
Elba Island, a pilot project towards climate neutrality. The European programme CO2 PACMAN launches co-design for the decarbonisation of Mediterranean islands.
Elba Island, 4 March 2026 – From 22 to 24 March 2026, Elba Island will become an experimental hub for co-design towards climate neutrality in the Mediterranean with “The Island I Would Like”, the final laboratory event of the CO2 PACMAN project(COoperation and CO-designing PArtnership for CliMAte Neutrality), funded by the Interreg Euro-MED Programme.
“The Island I Would Like” represents the fully implemented Italian pathway, following the first two Labs on the island of Brač (Croatia) and Crete (Greece), as a pilot project on Elba Island: three intense days of dialogue, immersion and co-creation among citizens, researchers, businesses, public administrations and local stakeholders to collectively imagine and design the ideal island of the future, climate-neutral.
CO2 PACMAN, with a budget of approximately €2.8 million and running from 2024 to 2026, involves partners from seven European countries (Italy, Greece, Croatia, Spain, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina) and aims to provide concrete tools, data and participatory scenarios to support Mediterranean islands in their transition towards decarbonisation and climate resilience, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal.
“We are giving the citizens of Elba Island both a voice and concrete tools to collectively decide the future of their island,” emphasises Prof. Simone Bastianoni of the University of Siena, project coordinator. “In a Mediterranean context that is increasingly vulnerable to climate change, projects such as CO2 PACMAN show that the ecological transition is possible, but it must be shared, participatory and consistent with local specificities.”
An innovative approach. “The Island I Would Like” demonstrates how scientific research, technological innovation and civic participation can effectively converge to generate sustainable development pathways rooted in the territory and its communities.
Event programme. The event will begin on 22 March with an immersive walk in the Capoliveri Mine. This field experience will allow participants to observe the Elban landscape, its historical industrial traces and its regeneration potential. During the walk, an open dialogue will take place among participants, researchers and local communities on the project results: the greenhouse gas emissions inventory, future landscape and energy transition scenarios, also presented through the CO2 PACMAN Tool and virtual reality installations.
The programme continues on 23 March with a participatory laboratory, a full day dedicated to the active involvement of the local community. Through interactive thematic stands, participants will be able to explore Elba’s CO₂ emissions inventory, interact with energy and landscape transition scenarios, discover innovative solutions proposed by local companies, learn about the results of the survey on climate perception, share ideas and visions for the desired island, and experience immersive virtual reality simulations related to photovoltaic systems, marine energy and agrivoltaics. The aim is to transform scientific data into living and participatory tools to co-design the island’s sustainable future.
Finally, on 24 March, the event will conclude with a day of institutional dialogue and the development of a roadmap towards climate neutrality. Round tables and working sessions will bring together authorities, experts, civil society organisations, businesses and community representatives to translate the priorities emerging from the previous days into a concrete and actionable roadmap. Particular attention will be given to integration with ongoing initiatives such as Elba 2035, taking into account the needs expressed by citizens and local administrations to define realistic actions for decarbonisation by 2035/2050.
The event is open to all citizens, economic operators, associations and interested institutions.
For information and registration: co2pacman@unisi.it
Detailed programme:
https://co2pacman.interreg-euro-med.eu/events/the-island-i-would-like-living-lab-in-italy-elba-march-22-24/
https://ecodynamics.unisi.it/co2-pacman-2/
https://co2pacman.interreg-euro-med.eu/
https://interreg-euro-med.eu/
