Italy implements climate adaptation measures for Po River basin

Regional leaders and institutions in Italy are addressing the growing challenges of climate change, specifically focusing on water management and drought resilience in the Po River basin and Emilia-Romagna.

In Chivasso, the ‘ClimactPact4Po’ declaration of intent was signed as part of the LIFE CLIMAX PO European project. This pact commits the municipality to developing local adaptation plans, involving citizens, and integrating climate objectives into urban and agricultural planning to combat the increasing vulnerability of the Po River ecosystem.

In Emilia-Romagna, discussions held during a provincial Fratelli d’Italia event emphasized the need for new infrastructure to manage extreme heat and water scarcity. Lorenzo Catellani, president of the Bonifica dell’Emilia Centrale, highlighted efforts to connect irrigation networks to act as a distributed expansion basin, allowing for the collection of water during intense rainfall to be redistributed during periods of scarcity.