Report on the contributions to the update of the NAS and NAP
Deliverable 11.3 – Dowload
Executive Summary
This report has been prepared within the framework of WP11 – Sustainability, Replication and Exploitation of the LIFE CLIMAX PO project and aims to provide a structured overview of the potential contributions that the project may offer to future updates of the Italian National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NAS) and the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (NAP), with a specific focus on water resources management and related sectors.
At the time of the project start, the NAP had not yet been approved, and project activities were initially developed in coherence with the NAS and the European adaptation policy framework. Following the approval of the NAP in December 2023, LIFE CLIMAX PO is now operating within a more clearly defined national policy context. However, at Month 36, the project has not yet provided formal contributions to updates of either the NAS or the NAP. For this reason, the present report does not document implemented policy changes, but rather identifies potential areas, approaches and modalities through which CLIMAX PO results could support future policy updates.
The report clearly distinguishes between contributions to the update and evolution of national adaptation policies, which fall under the scope of WP11, and the monitoring of the implementation of the NAS and the NAP, which is addressed within WP9. Deliverable 11.3 therefore focuses on preparatory, analytical and methodological aspects, avoiding any assessment of policy implementation.
The analysis highlights the strategic role of river basin districts as functional units for climate adaptation governance, in line with both national and European frameworks. In this context, the Po River Basin District is presented as a relevant territorial laboratory, where integrated, multi-level and evidence-based approaches to adaptation are being developed. The results and experiences generated across the different Work Packages, including governance models, climate services, decision-support tools, sectoral guidelines and policy recommendations, provide a solid basis for identifying potential inputs to future updates of the NAS and the NAP.
The report also outlines possible areas of contribution to the territorial articulation of the NAP, the integration between national adaptation policies and river basin planning instruments, and the alignment with regional adaptation strategies, particularly in regions such as Lombardy, Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna, which have already developed or are advancing their own adaptation strategies.
Finally, the deliverable identifies the next steps required to further structure and consolidate these potential contributions, including the systematisation of project results, the strengthening of dialogue with national authorities, and the progressive alignment with the evolving policy framework. Overall, Deliverable 11.3 represents a foundational and forward-looking document, designed to prepare the ground for meaningful and evidence-based contributions of LIFE CLIMAX PO to future updates of Italy’s national climate adaptation policies.