Coastal regeneration as key driver for climate change adaptation

Climate change threatens economic development globally, with distinct disparities in accelerating risks across regions as well as their capacities to adapt, in terms of socio-economic conditions, financing and technological solutions eccessibility. Coastal communities and Maritime Regions are at the forefront of impacts driven by climate change and sea level rise. It is estimated that in Europe these impacts could generate by 2100 more than €800 Billion loss due to the potential economic impacts on its 271 Maritime Regions, especially vulnerable to climate change. The role of planning for the necessary adaptive regeneration of coastal cities and lirs, ports and natural areas, has become increasingly central to the future of coastal communities and their regions economies, environment and social apects, as well as appropriate policies, funds and funding lines, scientific research & industrial applications able to support the great challenge of transforming territories to face climate change.

In order to take stock of advancements and give views on new opportunities in this frame, the appointment this year is focusing on policies and governance for adaptation at European, National and Regional/Local level, the instruments under implementation or new to come, and on the contribution that the scientific, industrial and stakeholders’ community can give to the process of adaptation of coastal territories. The event, arranged in high-level round tables, is intended in giving examples, good practices and reflections on extent to which the current system has the capacity to address appropriately the transformations that the climate change calls as necessary and which further steps should be envisaged to better address climate change on coastal areas, dealing also with regional disparities. To make the event leave its contribution along this process, the intention also is to come out with a “manifesto” providing suggestions on further steps that policies and planning instruments could do in further supporting and facilitating adaptive regeneration operations of the coastal zones.   

Session Chairs

Lorenzo Cappietti, GNRAC / Enzo Pranzini, University of Florence
Giuseppe Sciacca, CPMR / Roberto Montanari, Emilia-Romagna Region

Program

14.00 Institutional welcome

14.15 Introduction and outline of the “manifesto” messages

14.30 Round Table 1 - State of play of key adaptation policies in coastal areas
Moderator (TBD)

Panelists:
EC representative (DGClima) Unit E or Unit E.1
National representative (Ministry of Environment)
Regional representatives (Andalusia and Marche) political level
Municipality political representatives (Livorno and Rimini) Major or Councilor

14.30 1st Round (advancements of adaptation policy instruments at the different levels)

15.00 Q/A with the audience 

15.15 2nd Round (way forward to enhance territorial adaptation policies across Europe)

15.45 Q/A with the audience

16.00 Round Table 2 - Enhancing stakeholders’ cooperation to foster adaptation
Moderator (TBD)

Panelists:
University/research centre representative (ONU DCCR on coastal resilience)
Industry representative (company dealing with coastal regeneration, i.e. DEME group)
Association representative (i.e. Assomarinas)
EU territorial cooperation program (i.e. Interreg Euro-MED)
Public financial institution (i.e. IEB)
Financial advisory company (i.e. SINLOC)

16.00 1st Round (advancements of adaptation policy instruments at the different levels)

16.30 Q/A with the audience 

16.45 2nd Round (way forward to enhance territorial adaptation policies across Europe)

17.15 Q/A with the audience

17.30 wrap-up and closure by the Chairs