The National Climate Change Adaptation Plan

The National Climate Change Adaptation Plan, approved by the Ministry of the Environment on 21 December 2023, marks a turning point for Italy. This strategic plan aims to guide the country in managing climate change, both at national and local level. Key objectives of the PNACC include reducing climate risks and improving the adaptive capacity of socio-economic and natural systems. Through in-depth analysis and long-term planning, the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan aims to minimise risks and exploit opportunities emerging from new climate scenarios.

The approval of the PNACC follows on from the first adaptation strategy launched in 2015 and represents a document that aims to guide Italy in the implementation "of actions aimed at minimising the risks from climate change". The PNACC consists in fact of 361 measures to be taken at national or regional level, covering a variety of environmental issues: desertification, coastal zones, urban settlements, water resources, land and marine biodiversity, health, transport, cultural heritage, and much more. With the approval of the PNACC, the Mase recognises that "climate change is one of the most relevant challenges to be addressed globally" and that "Italy is located in the so-called 'Mediterranean hot spot', an area identified as particularly vulnerable".

The PNACC is divided into several key sections. First, the legal framework and the national climate framework, which provide a solid basis for understanding climate change in Italy. Next, we find the impacts of climate change in Italy and sectoral vulnerabilities. We then move on to the measures and actions of the PNACC, a document summarising the proposed sectoral actions: for each of these, the database provides the category, the main impacts, the type of belonging and the value judgment. Among the types of membership we distinguish:
. - Soft: information activities, development of organisational and participatory processes, and governance
- Grey: direct material actions on facilities, technologies and infrastructure
- Green: "nature-based" solutions
. Considering the 361 actions in the PNACC, more than 250 belong to the 'soft' type, while the others are 'green' or 'grey'.

The other two key sections of the PNACC are funding and adaptation governance. With reference to the former, the European Union has earmarked a significant share for climate action: at least 30 per cent of expenditure in the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework and at least 37 per cent under the Recovery and Resilience Facility. A commitment that provides a solid base of support for Italian initiatives in the field of climate adaptation, including those outlined in the PNACC. Finally, the effective implementation of the NACC requires a solid governance structure. An essential first step is the establishment of the National Observatory for Climate Change Adaptation, a body in charge of coordinating and monitoring adaptation actions on a national scale.

With the approval of the PNACC begins the second phase, which focuses on the definition of tools and methods for the implementation of the measures of the plan at the different levels of government. In this context, 3Bee implements Oases of Biodiversity for environmental protection and soil regeneration, with the aim of counteracting the effects of climate change through a technological approach. 3Bee Oases are urban and agroforestry habitats created in areas of low biodiversity, with the aim of regenerating it. Places where technology and nature come together to take a first step towards climate resilience. The project contributes to the regeneration of ecosystems, creating a network of organisations, companies and research institutes engaged in the creation of the largest ecological corridor in Europe. Want to know more?