Rethinking Sustainability Together: Insights from Living Labs Italy

As part of the Make the Change (MtC) project, the Living Labs Italy series offered a dynamic, non-formal learning space where young people, activists, and local communities came together to question, imagine, and shape sustainable futures. Rooted in co-creation and experimentation, each lab tackled different aspects of the climate crisis, always linking global challenges with local practices and possibilities.

Across five engaging sessions, participants explored the climate crisis from multiple angles from sustainable food systems to digital transformation, from grassroots activism to the tipping points of our planet. Each lab became a space to learn, discuss, imagine, and act.

These labs weren’t just events, they were spaces of connection, empowerment, and imagination. They showed that behavioral change can start with a conversation, grow through collaboration, and lead to lasting transformation.

Living Lab Sessions

Living Lab 1 – Food & Sustainability

We opened the series by exploring one of the most tangible dimensions of sustainability: food. Through interactive discussions and group activities, we analyzed how everyday choices impact the environment, the economy, and social equity. Participants reflected on sustainable diets, food systems, and the cultural implications of consumption, laying the groundwork for more complex discussions.

Living Lab 2 – Advocacy & Local Realities

In this session, we shifted focus to advocacy and behavioral change. Participants worked collaboratively to investigate sustainable habits and mapped out local actors committed to climate justice. We explored the power of advocacy — from grassroots campaigns to digital activism — and identified themes to explore further: plant-based diets, AI and digital transition, and new methods of civic engagement.

Living Lab 3 – Facing Climate Extremes

Held both in-person and online, this lab zoomed in on the science and lived experience of climate change. Together, we examined extreme weather events heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and biodiversity collapse and discussed “tipping points” in the Earth system. The conversation then turned to global and local responses: what is being done, what’s missing, and what role we can play.

Living Lab 4 – Activism & Civil Resistance

In a powerful session hosted by local Extinction Rebellion local activists, we created a collective space for dialogue, imagination, and resistance. We discussed the emotional and political weight of the climate crisis, the lack of institutional response, and how not to stay passive. Through this exchange, participants discovered the principles and practices of non-violent civil disobedience as a tool for climate action.

Living Lab 5 – Designing for Change

Our final lab was all about turning reflection into action. Participants, working in small groups, developed ideas for sustainable social businesses. Drawing on all the insights from the previous labs, they sketched innovative, community-centered solutions aimed at addressing climate challenges while creating social and environmental value.