Salvatore Paolo De Rosa

What do you research?

I did many years of research on socio-environmental conflicts, particularly in relation to pollution and waste management. During the last six years, I have shifted my gaze on climate politics, which could be seen as a much more pervasive and consequential issue of pollution. A consistent theme in my research is a focus on grassroots environmental organizing: I have studied climate activism and direct actions against fossil fuels, the creation of social economies rooted in territories, and the challenges of vulnerability and climate adaptation in cities. More recently, I have been focusing on strategies of transformation, and on the increasing criminalization of civil disobedience.

Why is it so important?

Political Ecology posits that any process of socio-environmental change is traversed by unequal power relations that structure different ecological meanings, practices and projects. Dealing with how power relations interact with environmental and climate politics is crucial. For example, we know that the current catastrophic trajectory of planet Earth has much to do with the domination of capitalism over life as much as it relates to vested interests preventing systemic transformations. Given that the solutions from the ruling classes are failing, it is of utmost importance to focus on how civil society organizes and comes up with alternatives more in line with science and fairness.

A project you are proud of?

I have always collaborated with civil society organizations and social movements, both in practice and to advance dialogues between grassroots knowledges and scientific approaches. One instance of this line of work is the collaboration with Danish climate activists to evidence and to counteract the increasing criminalization and policing they face in the exercise of their rights of freedom of speech and of assembly. We worked together to collect stories, legal documents and potential strategies. This led to several articles in the popular press and to the creation of an anti-repression coalition that brings together many different groups. That’s what I call applied research!

Updated December 2025

Through her participation in Policy Fellowship 2025-2026, Salvatore works with Peter Fredslund Jensen, Senior Advisor on Sustainability and Public Affairs at PFA Pension.