the italian case valentino piana speech delivered in ankara, 19th november 2009 climate change and...

The Italian Case

Valentino Piana

Speech delivered in Ankara, 19th November 2009

Climate Change and Climate Change and

Adaptation Strategies Adaptation Strategies

www.economicswebinstitute.orgCutting-edge research & implementation consulting

Contents

2. The challenge of climate change in Italy

3. Seventeen likely impacts of climate change

4. The families of adaptation strategies

4.1. Framework strategies

4.3. Strategies for the rapid system-wide intervention

4.4. Saving and substituting scarcer resources

5. Conclusions

1. A simple scheme of climate change

4.2. Strategies to strengthen local responseby protecting key assets


1. A simple scheme of climate change

Density/Value

Our adaption from Isoard, Grothmann and Zebisch, 2008.

Additional stressors



Perceived as a long-term and remote phenomenon

Low priority in economic and political terms

Specific aspects of climate change overemphasised while others neglected

1

2

3

4 Scattered competences4

4 Framed by other issues, not framing other issues5



exacerbatesexacerbatesexisting problemsexisting problems

generates generates entirely new onesentirely new ones

Climate change

It provokes widely differentiated effects in term of timing (immediate, medium-term and long-term)and in terms of geographical areas and economic sectors.


3. Seventeen likely impacts of climate change

Alpine region

Water scarsity and desertification

Coastal zones

Hydro-geological vulnerable zones

Polluted urban centreshit by heat waves


4. The families of adaptation strategies


4.3. Strategies for the rapid sistem-wide intervention


4.2. Strategies to strengthen local responseby protecting key assets



Coherent and extensive list of measures, expliciting objectives, stakeholders, activities, budget and responsibilitiesCoherent and extensive list of measures, expliciting objectives, stakeholders, activities, budget and responsibilitiesDefinition

All the country, identifying areas at risks, establishing priorities and balancesAll the country, identifying areas at risks, establishing priorities and balancesCoverage

Systemic approachFull coverage of issuesNo surprisesInternational comparability

Systemic approachFull coverage of issuesNo surprisesInternational comparability

Long consultationsDifficulties in agreementHigh total costs foreseen for actionRisk to receive funding only for the process, not for the measures

Long consultationsDifficulties in agreementHigh total costs foreseen for actionRisk to receive funding only for the process, not for the measures

PROS CONS

National Adaptation Strategy, National Program for the Fight to Drought and DesertificationNational Adaptation Strategy, National Program for the Fight to Drought and DesertificationExamples



Source: PEER (2009)

National Adaptation Strategy1

Italy is going to lay down a National Adaptation Strategy



National Program for the Fight to Drought and Desertification2

CIPE deliberation n. 229 - 21st December 1999Legal foundation

It provides a framework for regional intervention, use of European Funds and for sectoral planning.

Kind of intervention

Workshops, awareness raising eventsExample of

direct activities

0.5 millions Euro in 2001 Costs


4.2. Strategies to strengthen local resilience by protecting key assets

Concentrated efforts to protect small areas from specific risks Concentrated efforts to protect small areas from specific risks Definition

Key assets, as historical cities, highly profitable human activities, etc.Key assets, as historical cities, highly profitable human activities, etc.Coverage

Effective in the area and for the problem under focus

Mobilization of resourcesInterest of solution providers

Effective in the area and for the problem under focus

Mobilization of resourcesInterest of solution providers

Possible negative externalities outside the area and on other environmental aspectsHigh cost per square km Difficult to replicate for non-human ecosystems and for non-highly profitable activities

Possible negative externalities outside the area and on other environmental aspectsHigh cost per square km Difficult to replicate for non-human ecosystems and for non-highly profitable activities

PROS CONS

MOSE Project in VeniseMOSE Project in VeniseExamples


4.2. Strategies to strengthen local resilience by protecting key assets

MOSE Project in Venise

Sea level rising and floods in VeniceProblem

Massive infrastructure and complex works. Kind of intervention

Extreme weather event in 1966 giving rise to a long debate on solutions. Project presented in 1981. After

criticisms, a new version presented in 1989. First financial commitment in 2002. First stone in 2003. On-going

contentious issue. Expected completion: 2012-2014.

Timing

Estimated €4,272 million, committed 3240 millions. Costs


4.3. Strategies for the rapid system-wide intervention

Monitoring and alert system with well-defined procedure of mobilization on-site and from all over the country(ies)Monitoring and alert system with well-defined procedure of mobilization on-site and from all over the country(ies)Definition

Disaster-prone areas, hit or at immediate riskDisaster-prone areas, hit or at immediate riskCoverage

Wide ex-ante coverageEffective mobilizationSolidarity across country(ies)Disaster impact reductionLevelled off expenditure over timeInsurance-like effects

Wide ex-ante coverageEffective mobilizationSolidarity across country(ies)Disaster impact reductionLevelled off expenditure over timeInsurance-like effects

Highly demanding in central and local competencesRaising awareness of risks (sometimes excessively)Keep resources always allocated

Highly demanding in central and local competencesRaising awareness of risks (sometimes excessively)Keep resources always allocated

PROS CONS

Civil defence systemCivil defence systemExamples


4.3. Strategies for the rapid sistem-wide intervention

Civil defence system

National Law 225 - 24th February 1992, modified by the Constitutional Law n. 3 - 18th October 2001

Legal foundation

Integrated multi-level system where not only a centralized “military-like” body is ready to enter into action, but local-level

units of volunteers and several bodies responds to mayors and higher-level political responsible people.


Monitoring the structural conditions of vulnerability, alert about the possibilty of disaster of a wide range of sources

(fire, floods, landslides) and immediate reactionActivities

Departments under the national and regional governments, army, fire brigades, forestry militia, Red

Cross, national healthcare system, citizen organizations, etc.

Participating bodies



Behavioural, technological and infrastructural change to reduce inputs in production and consumptionBehavioural, technological and infrastructural change to reduce inputs in production and consumptionDefinition

Water, energy, soilWater, energy, soilCoverage

Potential profitability due to savings

Homogeneity and standardization of solutions

Fast implementation, at least In principle

Potential profitability due to savings

Homogeneity and standardization of solutions

Fast implementation, at least In principle

Underestimation of rigidities in habits and technological lock-insEconomic instruments (e.g. higher price of the resource) not always effective and politically feasibleThey may require further R&D

Underestimation of rigidities in habits and technological lock-insEconomic instruments (e.g. higher price of the resource) not always effective and politically feasibleThey may require further R&D

PROS CONS

Basin and Regional plans for saving waterBasin and Regional plans for saving waterExamples



Regional plans for saving water

Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EU; National Law 13/2009; Regional Development plans

Legal foundation

Multi-yearly program of extraordinary and ordinary maintenance of water pipelines, agreements with trade associations to spread technologies, pilot project of new technologies, educational programs for population and

children, price modifications


National and regional authorities, water basin authorities, schoolsParticipating bodies


5. Conclusions

Climate change is now and for the future, probably faster than many policymakers expect.

Planning and executing adaptation measures can be long and difficult.

Italy is moving from a reactive to a pro-active approach and is keen to exchanges of experience with all countries

of the Mediterranean Sea.


For further information and support feel free to contact us!

Thank you for your kind attention.

Valentino Piana <[email protected]>

Mobile phone: +39 349 36 10 476

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