Defining impactful adaptation measures, through Joint_SECAP

The Joint_SECAP project (Interreg Italy-Croatia Programme) came to an end. The project showed how climate hazards and related vulnerabilities can influence all aspects of our society: in primis economics and environmental and technological sectors, requiring the abandonment of the logic of the plan at municipal scale to embrace the territorial dimension of the district, without losing the comparison with local realities and specificities.

The project hosted its final conference last 16th and 17th of June 2021. The overall event was moderated by journalist Elisabetta Guidobaldi, from the Italian National Agency of Associated Press (ANSA).

On the 16th, the consortium organised a technical workshop building participants capacities on how to define impactful adaptation measures and strategies, involving local municipalities and other relevant stakeholders in the process. Mr Salvatore Corroppolo, Head of Service of Energy Policy and Resources of the Territory of Abruzzo Region, and Ms Diana Gracin Petrovic, project manager at the Joint Secretariat of the INTERREG cross-border Programme Italy-Croatia, officially started the event, by giving a first glance of what’d to come and of the importance of such project for the community involved.

The Joint Research Centre, in the person of Mr Aldo Treville, joined the workshop presenting the IPCC framework for adaptation and the key steps for a holistic risk and vulnerability analysis. The Covenant of Mayors – Europe was also represented, by Ms Mariangela Luceri who introduced the new CoM-Europe commitments and joint adhesion procedures.

The Joint_SECAP project was first introduced in terms of results and overall process by Prof. Rosalba D’Onofrio, from the University of Camerino and project coordinator. The context analysis was presented by Mr Zvonko Čuljat, from the municipality of Vela Luka; followed by the presentations of the project risk and vulnerability assessment, by Antonio Frankovic from IRENA, and of the highlights and scenarios and focus groups by Ana Vukušić from the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and by Martin Bućan from the Split-Dalmatia County.

Ms Maria Petrobelli, from the municipality of San Benedetto del Tronto, and Ms Chiara Barchiesi, from the Abruzzo Region, respectively focused instead on the project preliminary strategic environmental assessment and the joint adaptation actions identified for the involved municipalities.

Finally, Mr Piero Di Carlo, from the municipality of Pescara, Mr Timothy Brownlee and Ms Piera Pellegrino, from the University of Camerino, presented the Joint SECAP platform and its features. The technical workshop concluded with Mr Nikola Matak, from SDEWES, who introduced how other territories were involved in the transferring of project results.

During the second session of the Joint_SECAP final conference, Ms Katerina Fortun, policy advisor at the European Commission (DG CLIMA) joined us with an inspiring speech on the importance of including adaptation in every aspect of our life and society.

Ms Fabiana Baffo, from the Italian Ministry of Ecological Transition and Ms Dunja Mazzocco Drvar, from the Croatian Ministry of Economics and Sustainable Development, presented the upcoming measures the two Governments have in their plan for the next future.

Ms Diana Granic Petrovic guided us through the next programming period of the Interreg Italy-Croatia Programme.

Dr Julije Domac, from the Covenant of Mayors-Europe Political Board, stressed the importance of local and regional (political) commitment in the fight and adaptation to climate change.

Prof. Rosalba D’Onofrio represented the Joint_SECAP consortium, highlighting the main achievements and activities of the project.

Finally, the President of the Abruzzo Region, Mr Marco Marsilio, and the Regional Minister for energy, urban planning and territory, maritime domain, landscapes and waste, Mr Nicola Campitelly, joined us to introduce the regional strategy for adaptation, while Prof. Claudio Pettinari, Rector of the University of Camerino, presented the university’s strategy and activities to support the Region and its citizen in the fight to climate change.