Francesco MUSCO
Country: Italy
Nominated by: Francesca Poli (AESS, Agenzia per l’Energia e lo Sviluppo Sostenibile – Head of the Ecological Transition Department )
Summary of Nominee’s Contributions
Professor Francesco Musco, a certified urban planner and PhD in Sustainable Development Governance, is a Full Professor of Urban Planning at IUAV University of Venice. With over 150 scientific publications and teaching experience at international institutions, he has shaped urban sustainability, climate adaptation, and spatial planning policies for over a decade.
Since 2010, he has led the Planning & Climate Change Lab, translating EU directives into local climate strategies. His initiatives integrate nature-based solutions, emissions reduction, and urban resilience, making him a key figure in sustainable development. As coordinator of the UNESCO Chair on Heritage and Urban Regeneration, he merges cultural preservation with climate adaptation, equipping municipalities with climate-proof policies that balance regulation, public engagement, and scientific innovation.
Beyond Italy, his work influences cross-border energy and climate initiatives from the Po Delta and Venice to coastal regions across Europe. Through EU-funded projects, he has pioneered data-driven climate tools, retrofitting strategies, and integrated land-sea management solutions, establishing his research as a benchmark for urban sustainability in Europe.
Creativity and Strategic Vision
Professor Musco has demonstrated strategic vision and creativity in advancing climate adaptation and urban sustainability. His work bridges scientific research and policy, providing local governments with effective planning tools.
Through PORTODIMARE (Interreg ADRION), he integrated scientific data with policy directives, enhancing land-sea management in Adriatic regions. In Adriadapt, he developed decision-support platforms for cities like Cervia (Italy) and Vodice (Croatia) to assess coastal erosion, heatwaves, and flooding, guiding nature-based adaptation strategies.
An early advocate of nature-based solutions, Musco promoted urban forests, wetlands, and green infrastructure before they became standard. His publications, including Planning for Climate-Proof Cities, have influenced ecosystem-based policies. He has also tailored EU climate directives into localised interventions, securing public support and long-term funding.
Through SECAP (Interreg Italy–Slovenia), he led cross-border partnerships to address sea level rise and outdated infrastructure, ensuring municipalities remain resilient in the transition to a green economy.
His creativity is evident in synergy-driven demonstration projects and sophisticated climate modeling, consistently uniting academic rigor with practical needs. By integrating science, policy, and innovation, he equips communities with forward-looking strategies for resilience in an unpredictable climate.
Impact
Professor Musco has secured over €9 million in competitive research funding, leading major initiatives such as Veneto ADAPT (LIFE+) and Master Adapt (LIFE+), helping municipalities implement climate-proof policies and energy transition strategies. His work has facilitated energy retrofits in public buildings and pilot-scale renewable systems in coastal areas, ensuring tangible sustainability outcomes.
A key aspect of his impact is capacity building. He has trained over 500 local administrators and professionals and supervised more than 100 master’s theses, equipping a new generation of experts with technical and policy knowledge in climate adaptation and urban planning. As Dean of the Erasmus Mundus Program on Maritime Spatial Planning (2012–2019), he trained planners now working in UN agencies, national governments, and international organisations.
His leadership in 30+ EU-funded cross-border projects extends beyond Italy. He played a crucial role in planning Italy’s Maritime Spatial Plan, balancing marine ecosystem protection with economic development. His collaborations across Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal, and France have advanced renewable energy, eco-tourism, and the sustainable blue economy, fostering green and blue job opportunities.
Cities such as Seville and Mantua have adopted his planning frameworks, incorporating bike lane enhancements, smart climate systems, and green roofs into broader urban regeneration strategies. By aligning climate adaptation with economic and cultural priorities, he has fostered long-term transformation.
At every stage, Musco combines policy innovation with real-world implementation, ensuring climate action is goal-driven, scalable, and replicable. His network of trained professionals and sustainable planning strategies extends his impact across Europe, shaping the future of resilient, low-carbon cities.
Leadership
Professor Musco has built a legacy of inclusive leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and policy-driven climate action. Over the past decade, he has guided 50+ researchers at IUAV’s Planning & Climate Change Lab (PCCL), creating an innovative hub for urban and environmental planning solutions. As President of CORILA, he elevates Venice’s adaptation strategies into global models, using the city as a testbed for climate resilience in coastal regions.
His leadership is deeply collaborative and participatory. In Urban_Wins (Horizon 2020), he introduced multi-stakeholder “Living Labs,” mentoring local officials, researchers, and community organisations in co-developing waste reduction and emissions-cutting strategies. Under his guidance, architects, economists, ecologists, and social scientists contribute to integrated policies addressing infrastructure, community needs, and environmental challenges.
A strong communicator, he translates technical findings into clear, goal-oriented policies, helping cities like Padova implement adaptation measures while ensuring broad public support. His ability to align local governance with EU climate goals is evident in his work with Covenant of Mayors National Meetings and Climate Alliance Conferences, where he shares best practices for sustainable urban transformation.
At the start of 2025, he became scientific coordinator (2025–2029) of PIONEER, the European Universities Alliance on Sustainable Cities (SDG 11), leading 10 universities and their local governments in developing scalable climate adaptation strategies. Through open feedback channels, digital monitoring tools, and adaptive urban planning, he ensures sustainability initiatives remain effective despite evolving policy and funding landscapes.
His leadership extends beyond direct projects. By fostering a network of trained climate professionals, self-sustaining city partnerships, and long-term urban resilience strategies, he embeds climate action into governance, research, and community engagement, ensuring lasting impact well into the future.