On 2–3 September 2025, the partners of the EnviRights project gathered in Turin for their first in-person meeting, hosted by the coordinator Volontariato Torino (Vol.To). This kick-off meeting marked an important step in the consortium’s collaborative work to strengthen the protection of environmental activism in Europe.
The project, co-funded by the European Union’s CERV programme, aims to enhance civic space by protecting the rights of young environmental activists, particularly their freedom of expression, assembly, and association, as guaranteed in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. At a time when youth climate protests are facing growing restrictions across different countries in Europe, the project’s relevance could not be greater.
The two-day agenda aimed both to consolidate effective internal procedures and to promote the consortium’s technical work. Partners first reviewed the Project Management Handbook and discussed the role of the Ethics & Compliance Committee. Particular attention was given to financial management, reporting practices, and administrative requirements, key elements for the sustainability of the partnership.
Following this, the consortium turned its attention to developing the monitoring system that stands at the heart of EnviRights. Led by the University of Turin, partners have begun in the past months the process of mapping stakeholders, organisations, and informal movements across Europe engaged in defending environmental rights. This mapping will allow the project to identify both best practices and documented violations, thereby laying the groundwork for the creation of a European monitoring platform.
Mapping environmental organisations and informal movements is the cornerstone of EnviRights’ work, ensuring that activists’ voices are documented and amplified across Europe
EnviRights goes beyond monitoring to invest in capacity building and advocacy, with activities including training young activists, creating consultation tables in four pilot countries, and engaging civil society, institutions, and media to strengthen awareness of environmental rights. ALDA will play a leading role in communication and advocacy: we will set up advocacy tables to connect with policy and decision makers at both European and international levels, and we will also organise the project’s final event in Brussels to present results and promote the EnviRights policy proposal.
The kick-off meeting also featured field visits to emblematic locations in Turin, sites of environmental activism. Partners visited Kontiki, the first Italian headquarters of Fridays for Future, today a vibrant environmental and cultural centre. Entirely self-managed by volunteers, Kontiki provides an inclusive space for youth environmental activism, hosting groups such as Extinction Rebellion and Last Generation.
The delegation then explored Meisino Park, a regional nature reserve along the River Po, designated as a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. While home to rich biodiversity, Meisino is under threat from development projects. The “Salviamo il Meisino” committee, founded in 2022, is actively campaigning against the construction of a sports citadel in the area, reminding us of the daily challenges faced by environmental defenders across Europe.
By the end of the meeting, partners had not only consolidated their project strategy but also reinforced their collective commitment to defending environmental rights. The Turin gathering was an opportunity to translate shared values into concrete plans, setting the course for two years of monitoring, training, and advocacy activities that will empower young environmental defenders across Europe.
As the consortium now moves forward with its first outputs, stay tuned for more updates from the EnviRights project!
