"Nessuno è chiamato a scegliere tra l’essere in Europa e essere nel Mediterraneo, poiché l’Europa intera è nel Mediterraneo". (Aldo Moro, 1973) / Nobody is called to choose between being in Europe and in the Mediterranean, because the whole of Europe is in the Mediterranean). (Aldo Moro, 1973) 

Roots in the Mediterranean

As a Sicilian working in Brussels to “connect Europe to the territories”, this quote is quite representative. My name is Christian Galletta, and I was born in Sicily, the biggest island in the Mediterranean Sea. I am one of the many who flew away to grow in a more fertile working environment. My ambition is, one day, to bring my extensive expertise back to where my heart resides, in the always drier soil of Mediterranean coastlines.

Building Expertise in Climate and Energy

I studied international relations (University of Bologna) and specialized in “Energy, Society and Sustainability” (University of Edinburgh), combining the ability to understand the world with the socio-technical knowledge to foster energy and climate transitions at 360°. 

I also mastered the concept of systemic innovations through several fully funded experiences at the EIT Climate KIC (Climate KIC Journey, Climathon, Pioneers into Practice program). 

Bridging European Policy and Local Climate Action

Emigrating from Sicily, I have worked in the capital of the European Union in not-for-profit trade associations and local and regional networks since 2021. In Brussels, I worked first at Hydrogen Europe (400+ members), then at Eurocities (200+ members) in the Covenant of Mayors Office, and currently at FEDARENE (90+ members). I understood the perspectives of businesses, local and regional administrations and public/private agencies, and how they influence European Institutions. 

The aim is always the same: to connect European projects with policies, influencing European institutions with our results and recommendations. In my daily job in the Federation of Regional and Local Energy and Climate Agencies, I am the work package and task leader for 3 multi-million European projects fostering the energy and climate transition on Mediterranean islands. I am also responsible for the network’s Islands
College, (15 members active on islands), working closely with two Vice-
Presidents from the Board of Directors from the Cyprus Energy Agency (CY) and from the Cabildo de Gran Canaria (ES). Island territories are front-runners, as they are real life laboratories for energy autonomy, they pilot flexible, circular and resource-efficient models for both climate adaptation and mitigation and represent an example for the whole Mediterranean region and for Europe.

Climate Impacts in the Mediterranean

In March 2025, I attended the Climate Chance Sommet Europe-Africa “Adaptation: Taking action” as part of a youth delegation. On that occasion, the city of Marseilles presented to us the new report MED 2050 (a foresight by Plan Bleu). As explained in the report, by 2050 the Mediterranean will be in a far more alarming situation than today, and more ambitious actions are required to face the challenges of climate change. We need a new “Mediterranean Development Model”, promoting endogenous regional development to manage the sea and the environment more as a common resource.

In the same month this year, I also attended the Climate Reality Leadership Corps European Training in Paris. Vice-President for the United States Al Gore himself, mentioned the fact that Sicily was the place to reach the highest ever temperatures in Europe (48.8°) back in 2021. This was striking information.

Climate change is not an abstract concept. Sicily is already experiencing wildfires, water scarcity and extreme weather events. My hometown Messina was the site of a devastating flood in 2009, which caused 37 deaths and numerous injured — a reminder of how urgent climate adaptation and resilience are for Mediterranean territories.

Looking Forward: Seeds of Change

These events made me understand how intertwined the Mediterranean and the European or Global levels are, and that I can advocate for the Mediterranean wherever I am. In every complex action dealing with climate change, we need to enforce multi-level frameworks for actors at all levels to be involved in the discussions and solutions. 

Adaptation and Resilience should be seen alongside mitigation as two sides of the same coin, and territories should address both through integrated approaches. Many energy and climate agencies already do that, but not all. European Institutions have two separate DGs (DG CLIMA and DG ENER) to address them, and we should push for more intersectoral integrated approaches. Building resilience and adapting to climate change also means addressing water scarcity and food security, preventing social turmoil and leaving none behind.

The higher the temperatures rise due to climate change, the more arid Mediterranean and Sicilian soils become. I plan to be one of the needed seeds of change, connecting the region with other Mediterranean regions and with the European level, leaving none behind.