Adaptive regeneration of coastal areas and territory – what new opportinities from the european climate resilience framework?

Climate adaptation and water related risks resilience are strategic objectives of the European Union. Climate-Change-generated effects and extreme events are bringing unprecedented challenges in territories and coastal areas that are often already vulnerable due to their hydrogeological features. Just in the recent few years, numerous European territories, internal and maritime regions, have experienced severe flooding events and marine storms with devastating impacts on local communities and economies. As a result, Member States have requested contributions from the EU Solidarity Fund, with a total estimated damage exceeding €63 billion. It is estimated that by 2030, half of Europe’s river basins and coasts will be affected by extreme weather and drought, and that damage costs will impact around 1.5% of total EU GDP by 2050.

Strengthening the resilience and adaptive capacity of territories and coastal areas is no longer optional. Adaptation should be systematically embedded in integrated planning and public policies, investment and territorial development strategies, aligned with environmental, economic and social objectives. A robust financial architecture at the European level, including the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), is essential to fund these transformations. Key expectations focus on the Commission’s new Integrated Framework for Climate Resilience, scheduled for adoption in Q4 2026.

One year after the launch of the “Manifesto – Shore up Climate Resilience of Maritime Regions” issued by the Conference on Coastal Regeneration held in Ecomondo ‘25, this year’s event wants to take stock of Europe’s actions to date. It will also focus on the new opportunities that the future European Climate Resilience Framework should provide to allow regional and local authorities in addressing climate-related challenges, designing appropriate responses and guiding the needed investment efforts to make their territories and communities more resilient and future-proof.

Session Chairs

Roberto Montanari, Emilia-Romagna Region
Maria Regueiro Puigdevall, CPMR
Lorenzo Cappietti, GNRAC

Program

Master of ceremony: 
Roberto Montanari, Emilia-Romagna Region

14.00 Institutional welcome 
Francesco Corvaro, Italian Government’s Special Envoy for Climate Change

Introduction by the Chairs and Overview of the ECOMONDO 2025 Declaration

14.20 Round Table 1: Perspectives, opportunities and high-level expectations from the new european climate resilience framework
Moderator: 
Maria Regueiro Puigdevall, CPMR

European Commission (DG CLIMA / JRC)
Philippe Tulkens, Head of Unit Climate & Planetary Boundaries (RTD.B.3) European Commission
Giuseppe Travia, Director DG Sustainable Use of Soil and Waters - Italian Ministry of Environment
Daria Povh Skugor, Director of PAP/RAC, the UNEP-MAP Centre for Coastal Management 
Nadia Pianardi, Director of UN-DCC on Coastal Resilience
Giovanni Coppini, Director of the Ocean Predictions and Applications Division CMCC 
European Investment Bank (Climate Mission)

Q&A with the audience

BREAK and Family photo

15.50 Round Table 2: Meeting regional and local needs: expectations and practical implementation of the new eu climate resilience framework

Moderator: 
Lorenzo Cappietti, GNRAC
Representative of Generalitat de Catalunya 
Representative of Flanders Region
Anna Montini, Councillor of Ecologic Transition, Environment, Sustainable Development, Blue Economy – Rimini Municipality 
Luca Salvetti, Major of Livorno Municipality

Ecomondo Company 1 (relevant territorial interventions/NBS solutions)
Ecomondo Company 2 (financial consultancy and support for territorial operations)

Q&A with the audience

17.00 Conclusions by the Chairs