Central VENETO Cities netWorking for ADAPTation to Climate Change in a multi-level regional perspective

LIFE Veneto ADAPT aims to enhance regional capacity to respond to the impacts of climate change, with a focus on hydro-geological risk and by means of a multi-level governance approach. The project will develop a methodology for an effective integration of climate change-related adaptation policies at regional and local levels.
Main objectives are to:
* Create a common knowledge base and an inventory of vulnerabilities and risks related to climate change;
* Develop adaptation measures and integrate them in existing urban plans;
* Mainstream and institutionalise the adaptation methodology by formulating regional guidelines for adaptation planning;
* Promote and develop green infrastructures through an integrated ecosystem-based approach in the conurbation of the central Veneto region;
* Increase the available volume of flood channels and of multi-use retention areas (ecological, free time and water parking), by building a layout of the ecological network among the main conservation areas of Central Veneto and the Venice metropolitan area; and
* Facilitate the uptake of the LIFE Veneto ADAPT approach in other regions and cities across the EU.
The project therefore contributes to the implementation of EU climate policies, in particular the EU adaptation strategy by developing and implementing local adaptation strategies and action plans, subsequently enabling a better informed decision-making process on adaptation and mitigation by improving the knowledge base.
Expected results:
* A strategy document for adaptation to climate change, issued and delivered to regional, national and EU policy-makers;
* A set of indicators for risks, vulnerability and resilience, defined and quantified for the Central Veneto Area;
* Improved resilience to flooding in the project area, benefiting more than 1.7 million citizens and covering an area of 302 600 ha;
* 43 climate adaptation plans including three for provincial capital cities, encompassing more than a million inhabitants;
* More than 1 000 m of channel restored and renaturalised in the city of Vicenza, increasing the available flooding volume of these canals by 3 000 m3;
* 130 m of the convertite channel, currently under pavement, elevated to the surface in the historic centre of Treviso city;
* A detailed design of the restoration of the Fuin channel in the urban area of Treviso;
* An integrated land management system with the inclusion of vulnerabilities, risks and adaptation measures, and an alarm system in the Medio Brenta;
* Updated land/geographic information systems of the union of municipalities of the Middle Brenta and the Venice metropolitan area with the inclusion of vulnerabilities, risks and adaptation measures;
* A masterplan for the restoration of the waterways in the Venice metropolitan area; and
* Awareness-raising among the 3.5 million inhabitants of the central Veneto conurbation on climate change adaptation, vulnerabilities and measures.