ACT - Adapting to climate change in Time LIFE08 ENV/IT/ Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data Read more

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1 ACT - Adapting to climate change in Time LIFE08 ENV/IT/ Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data Read more Contact details: Project Manager: Marco CARDINALETTI Tel: Fax: marco.cardinaletti@comune.ancona.it Project description: Background Climate change is one of the most challenging environmental, social and economic threats to society. The Mediterranean basin is particularly vulnerable: climate change projections foresee a reduction of water availability, hydropower potential, summer tourism and general crop productivity. In addition, the risk of flooding due to rising sea levels is high in all coastal areas, including the Adriatic basin. Local authorities can play a crucial role in shaping climate change adaptation actions because they connect households to local resources and collective action; they determine the extent of external support to different social groups, and link local populations to national interventions. As such, local public sector bodies can play a major role in implementing Italy s National Adaptation Plan of Action concerning climate change. Objectives The main focus of the ACT project was on developing a process for an effective municipal strategy for local climate change adaptation measures. This was to be achieved by involving local stakeholders (businesses, citizens, public health sector, civil protection, etc.) in a consultation process to help determine proportionate, appropriate and cost-effective measures to be included in the adaptation strategy.

2 Results In line with their overall objectives, the ACT project partners identified three municipalities in the Mediterranean basin that appeared particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change namely Ancona (Italy), Patras (Greece) and Bullas (Spain) and got them involved in the project. Thanks to the different characteristics of these cities regarding their size, number of inhabitants, priority sectors and vulnerable areas, it was possible to study a great variety of situations. The idea of the project, however, was not to implement concrete adaptation measures, but rather to identify a sustainable approach for drawing up an adaptation plan at local level and identifying the main difficulties that must be faced when determining the correct adaptation strategies. In line with this thinking, the project first conducted preliminary studies on the effects of climate change on the economies of the three participating municipalities, and used these to inform the drafting of a local adaptation plan (LAP) for each of the three cities involved. The LAP provided a list of practical actions to be taken in order to implement the adaptation strategies with the involvement of local stakeholders. As a main result, the ACT consortium succeeded in developing a local adaptation strategy with the help of a well-defined, integrated and participatory methodology shared by all local actors. This strategy takes into consideration the environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change, thus increasing the resilience of cities to this phenomenon. Hence, ACT created an environment and knowledge base that should help to reduce the risks of environmental disasters in the long run. From a legislative point of view, the project contributed actively to the implementation of the 2007 EU Green Paper Adapting to climate change in Europe options for EU actions by scaling down climate change forecasting models to the local level, so that substantial and effective actions can now be developed with the participation of all interested parties. At the socio-economic level, the ACT project has made it possible to anticipate problems linked to climate change and establish an adequate adaptation plan, which in turn enables control over the negative impacts of climate change on important economic sectors, such as agriculture, energy, transport, tourism and public health. Last but not least, the ACT project partner drafted European guidelines for LAPs in order to provide practical and operational support to public administrations wishing to start the process of adaptation to climate change. Whilst the guidelines are primarily aimed at local communities in the Mediterranean facing similar climate change impacts as the three participating cities, they are not intended as a set of fixed rules, but rather as a theoretical foundation on which climate adaptation strategies rest. They provide a list of things to do - and problems to be faced -once a municipality attempts to implement a local adaptation plan. The ACT project suggests an innovative way to unite efforts, commitments and the knowledge of different groups and individuals that can contribute to the achievement of a common goal: resilient communities, able to withstand the challenges of climate change.

3 Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section). Environmental issues addressed: Themes Information - Governance - Public and Stakeholders participation Land-use & Planning - Urban design (urban-rural) Climate change Adaptation - Resilient communities Keywords urban area climate protection local authority social participation management plan Natura 2000 sites Not applicable Beneficiaries: Coordinator Type of organisation Description Partners Comune di Ancona Local authority Italy s Municipality of Ancona has a mandate to promote sustainable development in the Adriatic region. The municipality contains a busy port which presents particular environmental management challenges linked to mobility between the city and the sea. Municipal enterprise for planning & development of Patras s.a. (adep s.a.), Greece Municipality of Bullas, Spain Forum of Adriatic and Ionain cities & Towns ISPRA (Institute for Environmental Protection and Research), Italy

4 Administrative data: Project reference LIFE08 ENV/IT/ Duration 01-JAN-2010 to 30-JUN Total budget 1,752, EU contribution 876, Project location Marche(Italia) Read more: Time" (363 KB) Author: Marco Cardinaletti, Time" (240 KB) Author: Agencia de Desarrollo Local Editor: ACT No of pages: 2 Time" (364 KB) Author: Marco Cardinaletti, time" (439 KB) Author: Marco Cardinaletti, Project web site Project's website Publication Title: Climate change impact assessment and local vulnerability Author: Alessio Capriolo of pages: 163 Publication: After-LIFE Title: After-LIFE Communication Plan Communication Plan Year: 2013 No of pages: 12 Publication: Book Title: The economic valuation of climate change impact assessment Author: Alessio Capriolo of pages: 120 Publication: Book Title: "Piano di addatamento del Comune di Ancona" Author: Giacomo Circelli (dir.) ; Marco Cardinaletti, Stef Editor: Adapting to Climate change in Time No of pages: 52 Publication: Comparative study Title: Road map for the Local Adaptation Plans (LAPs) : LIFE Projet Author: F. Giordano, R. Mascolo Editor: Adapting to Climate change in Time No of pages: 56

5 Publication: Guidelines-Manual Title: Planning for adaptation to climate change : guidelines for municipalities Author: F. Giordano, A. Capriolo, R. A. Mascolo of pages: 222 Publication: Guidelines-Manual Title: Local adaptation plan of the city of Patras Year: 2013 Editor: Adapting to Climate change in Time No of pages: 106 Publication: Layman report Title: Rapporto layman Year: 2013 No of pages: 7 Publication: Layman report Title: Layman report Year: 2013 No of pages: 7 Publication: Layman report Title: Informe layman Year: 2013 No of pages: 7 Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data Read more