Damian Carrington of The Guardian and Pilita Clark of the Financial Times were the winners of the 2025 edition of the award established by the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, and named after Rebecca Ballestra. The two journalists were awarded by Giulio Boccaletti, Scientific Director of CMCC, during the opening of the Festival for the Earth in Turin on the morning of October 16 at Castello del Valentino. A public event with scientists, journalists, and science communicators where issues related to climate change reporting were discussed, featuring special mentions for Giulia Bassetto (Will Media), Matteo Civillini (Climate Home News), Nicola Lagioia, and Paolo Benini (Lucy sulla cultura).

Science, journalism, and a variety of collaborations that, in the words chosen by The Guardian as the title of their podcast on climate change,  told “the biggest story in the world.” The 2025 edition of the CMCC Climate Change Communication Award celebrated all of this – an award that the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change presents to prominent figures in the global communication and information fields every two years, in recognition of their work and ability to raise public awareness through the use of scientific sources.

After reviewing content produced by media outlets and journalists internationally, with a particular focus on work that helped narrate the relationship between climate sciences and various socio-economic sectors (such as domestic and international politics, economics, finance, social, and cultural policies), the CMCC jury decided to award two journalists who, throughout their careers, have consistently and carefully highlighted the issue of climate change. Their work has brought this critical topic to public attention, emphasizing its importance in shaping solutions and policies for a sustainable future.

The winners of the 2025 edition were Damian Carrington and Pilita Clark.

Damian Carrington has worked at The Guardian since 2008, specializing in environmental journalism through analyses and investigations that explore the links between environmental systems, human societies, and decision-making based on scientific fundamentals.

Pilita Clark is a journalist at the Financial Times, covering a wide range of topics related to climate change, where she has stood out in her ability to synthesize complex issues whilst keeping scientific research as the foundation for understanding these topics.

The CMCC Climate Change Communication Award also grants special mentions to initiatives and individuals who have distinguished themselves in particular fields. The winners of the 2025 mentions were: Giulia Bassetto (Will Media), special mention for multimedia content; Matteo Civillini (Climate Home News), special mention for digital content; Nicola Lagioia and Paolo Benini (Lucy sulla cultura), special mention for multidisciplinary work and the ability to integrate different cultural fields (science, literature, arts).

The winners of the 2025 edition received their awards during the public event Journalism and the biggest story in the world. Science, media, and information narrate the challenges of the climate crisis, which kicked off the Festival for the Earth on the morning of October 16 in Turin at the Salone d’Onore of the Castello del Valentino, home of the Faculty of Architecture at the Polytechnic University of Turin.

During the event, Damian Carrington and Pilita Clark shared their professional experiences, fostering reflections on the challenges faced by journalism and newsrooms in reporting the risks and opportunities involved in building resilient societies. This included investigations that revealed hidden aspects of the relationship between human societies and nature in an era of increased knowledge about climate change.

The meeting also served as a chance for dialogue with the recipients of the special mentions, who shared their diverse experiences and perspectives in a panel discussion moderated by Mauro Buonocore, Head of Communications and Science Outreach at CMCC. All had a common element: a vision that goes beyond disciplinary boundaries and sparks initiatives where scientists, artists, writers, citizens, and journalists work together to better understand a shared future.

Following the panel, a roundtable took place, featuring CMCC researcher Marta Ellena, La Stampa journalist Nicolas Lozito, Paola Mazzoglio (Politecnico di Torino), Giuliano Antoniciello (CarpeCarbon), Duccio Travaglini (Greencome), and moderated by Marco Merola.