From March 9 to March 12, 2026, Accademia Europea di Firenze hosted the second edition of its Sustainability Week, a four-day immersive experience that brought environmental and cultural responsibility to the center of academic life.More than just a series of events, the Sustainability Weekrepresented a meaningful step forward in AEF’s long-term commitment to sustainability as a lived, shared, and interdisciplinary practice.
The program opened with a focus on Socio-Emotional and Ethical Learning, led by Valentina Dolara and Francesco Gori. This session set the tone for the week, highlighting the importance of awareness, empathy, and ethical responsibility in addressing global challenges.
Later that day, students attended a guest lecture by Bernardo Manfriani exploring a timely and complex question: Is AI sustainable? The session examined the hidden environmental costs of digital technologies, encouraging participants to reflect critically on innovation and its impact.
The day concluded with a hands-on initiative beyond the classroom: a city-wide clean-up organized in collaboration with Angeli del Bello, reinforcing the idea that sustainability begins with caring for the places we inhabit.
From Knowledge to Action: Workshops and Open Classes
Throughout the week, Sustainability Week offered a wide range of open classes designed to explore sustainability across disciplines.
Students engaged with topics such as:
- Sustainable business and green finance, examining how economic models can evolve toward responsibility and resilience
- Photography and the environment, reflecting on how visual storytelling can shape our perception of nature and change
- Movement and sustainability, connecting body awareness with environmental consciousness through dance
- Literature, travel, and hyperreality, questioning modern mobility and its cultural and ecological implications
- History, politics, and climate change, linking past and present to better understand today’s global challenges
A particularly thought-provoking session on Dromology: the Footprint of Speed invited students to reflect on how the acceleration of modern life impacts both society and the environment.
Carbon Literacy: Understanding Our Impact
At the core of the week was the Carbon Literacy Training, led by Matteo Fusco, Coordinator of the Business & Political Studies Department.
Delivered in two sessions, the workshop provided participants with essential knowledge about climate change, carbon footprints, and sustainable practices. Through interactive activities, students developed their own Carbon Action Plans, translating awareness into concrete steps for change.
Upon completion, participants received official certification from the The Carbon Literacy Project, an internationally recognized credential that strengthens both academic and professional profiles while fostering long-term commitment to sustainability.
Innovation, Creativity, and Circular Thinking
Sustainability Week also created space for dialogue with external experts and innovators.
Creativity and hands-on learning came together in the upcycling workshop organized in collaboration with ZeroLab, where participants transformed leather offcuts into functional objects—demonstrating how waste can become a resource through design and innovation.
A Community Experience
What made Sustainability Week truly unique was its strong sense of community. Students, faculty, and partners came together not only to learn, but to act, reflect, and collaborate.
This collective dimension was especially evident during activities like the Florence clean-up, where participants contributed directly to the well-being of the city, reinforcing AEF’s connection to its local context.
Celebrating Commitment: The Green Ambassadors
The week concluded with a Closing Ceremony, a moment to reflect on the experiences shared and the knowledge gained.
During the ceremony, AEF also recognized and awarded its Green Ambassadors—students who demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability throughout the program. This recognition highlights AEF’s goal of empowering individuals to become active agents of change within their communities and beyond.
Looking Ahead
AEF Sustainability Week 2026 was not just an event, but a milestone in an ongoing journey.
By integrating sustainability into education through interdisciplinary learning, practical training, and community engagement, Accademia Europea di Firenze continues to shape a model of education that prepares students to face global challenges with awareness, responsibility, and creativity.
At AccademiaEuropea di Firenze, sustainability is not only taught,it is experienced, shared, and transformed into action.
Learn sustainably. Take action,make an impact.
