CLIMate Adaptation for the PO river basin district

Introduction

Climate change is leading to great environmental challenges, which require compelling and urgent actions, especially in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean area.

National Adaptation Strategy

The Italian National Adaptation Strategy (NAS) recognises the Po River Basin District as the national special case and pilot area for climate adaptation in the water management sector.

Objectives of CLIMA PO

CLIMA PO's overall objective is to boost adaptation to climate change through climate-smart water resources management at the river basin district scale by implementing NAS measures tailored to the local characteristics and climatic peculiarities present in the district.

Key Actions

This will be done by:

1. Improving district governance in water resource management.
2. Ensuring policy, funding, and technical coordination and coherence.
3. Producing shared climate knowledge (tools and methodologies).
4. Building capacity and awareness, and increasing stakeholder participation.
5. Improving water security and climate resilience through selected pilot actions replicable in the river basin and beyond.
6. Mobilizing complementary funding to support the implementation of extended and costly measures focused on:
   • Renaturation
   • Flood risk mitigation and prevention
   • Integration of planning tools
   • Activating public engagement

Multilevel Governance Deal

CLIMA PO will launch a Multilevel Governance Deal with dedicated task forces to foster a coordinated planning approach at National, Regional, and Local levels. This will start from the existing River Basin Management Plan and lead to the mobilization and coordination of several sources of funding (420+ million euros, out of which 350+ million euros have already been granted).

Leadership and Consortium

CLIMA PO is led by the National Po River Basin District Authority (ADBPO), chaired directly by the Minister for Ecologic Transition and responsible for the implementation of the NAS at the district level.

The consortium covers the whole geographical river basin, all levels of governance (National, Regional, Local), and necessary competences with three major research institutes on board.