Marco Palma

Researcher @ University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland

Switzerland

About

I am a researcher at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), working on climate strategies, urban processes, climate justice, just transition, and planetary urbanisation. My research engages critically with the social and political dimensions of climate governance, with particular attention to urban inequalities, institutional change, and the territorial effects of sustainability transitions. I am especially interested in how climate action is shaped by uneven power relations and how justice-oriented frameworks can inform more inclusive urban and regional policies. In my past position at the Municipality of Santorso I coordinated several projects and activities that involved local, regional and national public authorities, representing the Municipality at different negotiating levels. I was also in charge of the Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) and responsible of different initiatives aimed to promote active participation of the local communities. One of the activities I promoted in order to engage citizens on energy sustainability issues has been selected as one of the finalists of the European Sustainable Energy Awards (EUSEW) in 2017.

Experience

  • Researcher at University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
    Sep 2023 - Present · 2 yrs 10 mos

  • Visiting Researcher at Manchester Urban Institute
    Feb 2026 - Feb 2026 · 1 mo

  • Researcher at Geneva Graduate Institute
    Jul 2024 - Dec 2024 · 6 mos

    FNS Stories of the future (https://www.graduateinstitute.ch/SOF)

  • Research Advisor at Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna
    Sep 2018 - Aug 2023 · 5 yrs

  • EU project expert at Università Ca'​ Foscari Venezia
    Dec 2017 - Jul 2018 · 8 mos