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The impacts of climate change and the increasing occurrence of consequent extreme events in recent years have led to significant environmental, social and economic consequences in a fragile and highly vulnerable territory such as Venice. It is precisely in this perspective, which considers areas particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate, that the scientific research program Venezia2021, coordinated by CORILA - Consortium for Coordination of Research Activities concerning the Venice lagoon system, is inserted. The research in question involves a complex process of identification and integration of innovative tools, data processing and analysis and assessment of impacts, in order to contribute to the maintenance of a proper balance of the lagoon ecosystem in a perspective of increased climate resilience. The overall objective of the research was to build a strategic, accurate and shared vision with respect to the challenges that await the preservation of the city and its lagoon, (a World Heritage Site), in consideration of climate change scenarios. Specifically, this paper analyzes the research experience of thematic axis No. 5 that led to the drafting of the Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Venice Lagoon. The operational path that led to the construction of the plan was guided by an in-depth spatial study and development of an integrated system of analysis, assessment, planning, management and monitoring of the Venetian area capable of supporting the city and the activities that operate in it, through coordinated adaptation actions aimed at increasing sustainability and resilience as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent European directives, including the "European Circular Economy Package" (2020), the "Farm to Fork" Strategy (2020), and the "Fit for 55" package (2022), focus attention on the issues of circular economy, security and sustainability of food production and reduction of emissions from anthropogenic activities. From this perspective, the study of urban metabolism is a useful approach to make local systems more resilient. In this regard, the intention is to emphasise the embedded commitment of territorial and urban planning to consider the current systemic components related to the flows that cross urban, peri-urban and rural territories, fostering the development of sustainable and circular supply chains capable of supporting an ecological, energetic and climatic transition. Therefore, this paper explores a methodology for the spatial analysis of urban contexts that take into account the main flows (water, energy, agri-food, and waste) that circulate and influence the transformation of the territory. In particular, thanks to the experience of the drafting process of the Territorial Plan of the Metropolitan Area (PTAV) of the Province of Rimini, i t was possible to identify some methodological aspects useful for a trend shift towards effective actions aimed at the sustainable and circular management of local resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to analyse the issue of mitigation and the balance of greenhouse gases in the rural contexts of the Emilia–Romagna region (Italy) due to climate change. The approach is based on the experimentation of a methodology, populated by available spatial databases and refined with a series of technical meetings, where it was possible to weigh availability and alternative choices within the identified assessment model. The objective of the research is to create a regional GHG balance map, in order to classify the territory for this specific dynamic. The aim of this approach is supporting policy decisions related to the Common Agricultural Policy at a regional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adversities of climate change represent a serious risk factor on both food production, rural territories and landscapes. In light of these irreversible trends, the process of adaptation of the rural territory is a necessary step, in order to increase its climate resilience. In this study, the vulnerability assessment was the tool used to evaluate the specific phenomenon of "flooding and backwatering" in the case study of Emilia Romagna region (Italy). The approach was based on the IPCC's risk analysis methodology, populated by different layers regarding specifical proxies related to the adaptive capacity and the sensitivity of the territory to water stagnation, then we assessed with the normalization process of the different information levels. The aim of the research consisted in the realization of a regional map of the vulnerability to floods and backwaters, in order to rank the territory to this specific phenomenon. The final result could be useful both for the relationship with planning choices and for local-based actions in agricultural policies that in Italy are taken at regional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at addressing the problem of what characterises decision-aiding for public policy making problem situations. Under such a perspective it analyses concepts like 'public policy', 'deliberation', 'legitimation', 'accountability' and shows the need to expand the concept of rationality which is expected to support the acceptability of a public policy. We then analyse the more recent attempt to construct a rational support for policy making, the 'evidence-based policy making' approach. Despite the innovation introduced with this approach, we show that it basically fails to address the deep reasons why supporting the design, implementation and assessment of public policies is such a hard problem. We finally show that we need to move one step ahead, specialising decision-aiding to meet the policy cycle requirements: a need for policy analytics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To build resilient and climate-neutral cities, it is required to modify current territorial planning processes to make them more sustainable and virtuous. However, the implementation of new strategies and innovative governance models faces multiple obstacles, economic restrictions, and technical gaps. In particular, local governments often find it difficult to build structured transition processes. This article investigates how it is possible to respond effectively to the need of urban contexts to adapt to climate impacts, analyzing the case of the Climate Transition Strategy (CTS) "La Brianza Cambia Clima", the first in Italy of this kind. Through the technical framework and the methodology described, the CTS can activate inter-municipal transformative actions through the mainstreaming of planning tools, the construction of a medium-long-term vision, and the identification of concrete and widespread actions to be implemented in the territory. This coordinated and shared strategic approach allows one to give stability, coherence, and continuity to adaptation processes involving different stakeholders and sectors of the Public Administration. Finally, it favors the implementation of multidisciplinary policies for territorial resilience on a large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban and peri-urban areas are subject to major societal challenges, like food security, climate change, biodiversity, resource efficiency, land management, social cohesion, and economic growth. In that context, Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture (UPA), thanks to its multifunctionality, could have a high value in providing social, economic, and environmental co-benefits. UPA is an emerging field of research and production that aims to improve food security and climate change impact reduction, improving urban resilience and sustainability. In this paper, a replicable GIS-based approach was used to localize and quantify available areas for agriculture, including both flat rooftop and ground-level areas in the mainland of the city of Venice (Italy). Then, possible horticultural yield production was estimated considering common UPA yield value and average Italian consumption. Climate change mitigation, like CO2 reduction and sequestration, and climate change adaptation, like Urban Flooding and Urban Heat Island reduction, due to the new UPA areas' development were estimated. Despite the urban density, the identified areas have the potential to produce enough vegetables for the residents and improve climate change mitigation and adaptation, if transformed into agricultural areas. Finally, the paper concludes with a reflection on the co-benefits of UPA multifunctionality, and with some policy suggestions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]