Expanding the Boundaries of Climate Adaptation: Evidence from a Participatory Case Study in an Italian Military Prison

Background Climate change is intensifying existing social and environmental inequalities, disproportionately affecting populations with limited access to resources, decision-making processes, and adaptive capacity. While climate adaptation governance emphasizes inclusive approaches, prison populations remain systematically excluded, despite their structural dependence on total institutions and heightened exposure to climate risks. Moving beyond a purely educational framework, the study explores two central research questions: how does the condition of confinement, characterized by near-zero environmental agency, shape the perception of global climate risks? And what can carceral facilities teach us about limits and possibilities of inclusive adaptation? Methods Building up on the Adaptation AGORA approach the study was conducted through an informal guided discussion, and a qualitative survey with twelve incarcerated participants explored the condition of confinement in relation to climate change perception. Results The research reveals that climate change is perceived as an immediate, physical threat, mediated by infrastructural rigidity and institutional dependency. Findings indicate that participants act as “territorial witnesses”, leveraging memories of environmental degradation from their regions of origin to validate climate data. Notably, their responses highlight a profound link between social dignity and climate engagement, where the desire for “institutional responsibility” reflects a demand for recognition as human subjects. Furthermore, concern for “future generations” emerges as a form of paternal generativity, through which incarcerated individuals exercise engaged agency—reconnecting with the outside world by advocating for the protection of their offspring. Despite its exploratory nature and small sample size, this methodological pilot demonstrates the feasibility of participatory dialogue in highly constrained environments. Conclusions The study contributes empirical evidence to the field of carceral geography and climate justice, arguing that extending adaptation processes to prisons is not only a technical necessity but a crucial step toward inclusive citizenship and social rehabilitation.