News

Online Reticula n.372024 - Monographic number

Biodiversity loss: change approach, or estimated costs will be between 10 and 25 trillion dollars per year

Two IPBES Reports approved by 196 United Nations countries

Loss of biodiversity and water availability, food insecurity, health risks and climate change? How to deal with them? What decisions to make? If we pursue traditional approaches, it would generate estimated costs.

This is what emerges from the two evaluation reports of IPBES, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, approved on 16 December by scientists, experts and representatives of the governments of 196 United Nations countries. The platform, founded in 2012, which has the task of evaluating the state of biodiversity and eco-system services, with the aim of promoting the interface between science and politics. Italy joined the intergovernmental platform in January 2020 and is also participating in the work through the technical support of ISPRA.

Online Guidelines for the conservation of Mediterranean trout and its habitat in protected areas and Natura 2000 sites

The guidelines are defined in the framework of the project LIFE STREAMS (LIFE18 NAT/IT/000931) "Salmo ceTtii REcovery Actions in Mediterranean Streams" and addressed to the management authorities of protected areas, Natura 2000 sites, the Regions and Hydrographic District Authorities and also contain indications for the integration of planning and management tools provided by the Habitats Directive and the Water Framework Directive.

Monitoring potentially toxic Ostreopsis cf. ovata along the italian coasts. Year 2023

Published the report which reports data from the monitoring activities of Ostreopsis ovata blooms and other toxic benthic dinoflagellates carried out in the 2023 season along the Italian coasts.

In particular, the results and methodologies of sampling and analysis, surveillance, information, communication and management in case of toxic blooms are illustrated, in order to evaluate both the trend of the phenomenon and the effectiveness of the activities implemented to detect and control the distribution, abundances and spatio-temporal dynamics of Ostreopsis ovata and associated blooms.

The reports provided by 15 coastal ARPAs were used to prepare this report.

Indoor air quality: minimization of pollutants with particular attention to radon gas

The booklet defines technical and behavioral indications for the management of indoor air quality pollutants. in residential environments and in particular for the reduction of radon levels, in accordance with the National Radon Action Plan (PNAR)

These environments include homes, offices, community, recreational and social facilities in which the population spends much of its time and which can therefore be more exposed to pollutants which, remaining within closed spaces, are able to reach high concentrations.

Municipal green plans: tools to bring nature back into our lives

The new ISPRA publication starts from the cities to reflect on a planning tool that is still not widespread in Italy - the Municipal Green Plan - with the aim of understanding its contents, strategies and transformative potential for healthier, more inclusive and resilient territories. Turin, Vercelli, Bolzano, Padua, Rovigo, Parma, Bologna, Forlì, Livorno, Avellino: these are the 10 green plans analysed, which tell us about a new vision of the city.

Technical visit of the Korea Environment Corporation to ISPRA

On 17 December 2024, a technical visit took place at the ISPRA headquarters by a delegation from the Korea Environment Corporation (South Korea), composed of the Director of the Soil and Groundwater Department and officials from his staff. The delegation met the Director of the Geological Survey of Italy, Dr. Marco Amanti, and other ISPRA experts for a discussion on the management of contaminated sites.

The Korea Environment Corporation is an organization that operates under the supervision of the Korean Ministry of the Environment, with the mandate to promote environmental health and develop projects to combat pollution and climate change. Every year, the organization analyzes the policies adopted at an international level regarding the management of contaminated sites; for 2024, Italy has been identified as the subject of in-depth analysis.

Project LIFE ABILAS

General States of Italian Protected Areas

Ten years after the last opportunity for general discussion, the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, in collaboration with Federparchi-Europarc Italia, is organizing a two-day event which will see the presence of the Minister of the Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto, and to the Undersecretary Claudio Barbaro, delegate for protected areas, also the Ministers Nello Musumeci, Alessandro Giuli and Daniela Santanchè, the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry Patrizio La Pietra, the representatives of the 79 environmental organizations invited to the discussion, the presidents of the park authorities and marine protected areas, representatives of local authorities, of the world of research and universities, of the bodies soldiers engaged in protecting the environment, and a discussion between representatives of all political parties, government and opposition.

Blue Mission Project - Our sea our health

Implemented by ISPRA, in collaboration with APRE, in the context of the SLEs (STE(A)M Learning Ecologies) project, Blue Mission is a Living Lab path, at the I.C. school. Guicciardini of Rome, on the issues of sustainability of human activities in marine-coastal environments. The issues of sustainable aquaculture, marine pollution from plastic waste and the ecological beach model are explored in depth in an interactive and experiential manner and contextualised in a One Health perspective.

One Health represents an integrated approach that recognizes the interdependence between human, animal and environmental health and primarily aims to improve global health, prevent disease and promote collective well-being, contributing to sustainable development.

IdroGEO: with "Report the landslide" an acceleration of information on the risk of collapse

“Report the landslide” aims to make communications between Municipalities and Regions easier and faster, to immediately have the complete picture of landslide events in a given area available. The new functionality of the national IdroGEO platform, presented on 11 December by ISPRA in Genoa, on the occasion of the meeting organized with ANCI and the Liguria Region, allows local administrations and professionals to report to the regional technical structures, even with a simple smartphone , the new landslides that occurred in the area.

Air quality in Italy: new forecasting and monitoring tools thanks to the Copernicus programme

Estimate the quantity of Saharan dust in the atmosphere in a timely and homogeneous manner throughout the national territory, predict the presence of pollutants in the air through stronger collaboration between the institutional bodies that manage the forecasting tools, detect with greater precision the presence of pollens and in particular those of the allergenic species most widespread in the Mediterranean areas.

Meetings on the E.I.A. Points of view on environmental impact assessment

Episode n.8 Meeting with Luigi Quaranta from TAP

There is a need to communicate, to disseminate information on the actions of the many protagonists of the environmental impact assessment, aimed at protecting the environment and human health. Meetings on the E.I.A. it is a useful communication tool to tell everyone how to pay attention to sustainability when designing. Communication is the topic discussed in this episode, a topic that has today become one of the cornerstones of environmental impact assessment.

Ungulates in Italy. Decline and rise

The fifth and final meeting organized by the CAI speleological group with the TAM (Mountain Environment Protection) commission of the CAI of Rome will be held on 12 December.

After a period of decline that culminated in the second half of the last century, the species of cervids and bovids present in Italy (deer, roe deer, fallow deer, mouflon, chamois and ibex) have begun a phase of recovery throughout Italy, due both to the improvement of environment (abandonment of mountain areas, increase in forests), and the creation of protected areas and intervention to reintroduce populations. Today we have many more wild ungulates than just 20 years ago, with positive effects on the environment and on other species, such as large predators. However, there are also problematic aspects, such as the negative impact on some priority species or environments, the damage caused to agriculture and road accidents. The management of these species therefore requires an overall approach, which also takes into account the social component as well as the conservation one.

Webinar on Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD 2008/56/CE) – Update for the second implementation cycle

The sea resource is fundamental for ecosystem balances and for sustainable development, the role of governance tool of the European Marine Strategy Directive defined in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, Directive 2008/56/EC) fits into this framework. On 12 December, at 10 am, the third and final online meeting will be held whose focus will be dedicated to the presentation of the program of measures of the Marine Strategy, pursuant to art.12 Legislative Decree 190/2010, with the Update for the second implementation cycle , as required by art.7 Legislative Decree 190/2010.

The webinar will focus on the illustration of descriptors 1,2,5 and 10 of the European Directive.

The sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

On 2 December  the biennial meeting of the delegations of 197 signatory countries of of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has started and it will last until 13 December 2024. Italy has been a signatory to the UNCCD since 1994.

This year the theme of COP 16 is “Our Land. Our Future” and, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD, will represent a key moment in the process of combating desertification, land degradation and drought, marking a renewed global commitment to accelerate investments and actions

States General of the World of Water Work

On 18 December 2024, Rome will host, at the Chamber of Deputies, the first edition of the States General of the World of Water Work, an event promoted by the University of Rome "Foro Italico". During the event, the aspects related to the application of safety measures in contexts where water is a key element will be analysed, in line with the regulations established by the Legislative Decree. 81/2008 and the recent Legislative Decree. 18/2023, which transposes the European Directive 2020/2184 on water safety in buildings. Furthermore, the States General propose themselves as a moment of cultural and social study, highlighting the central role of water in the diffusion of the culture of prevention and safety, as underlined by the recent approval of DDL S 1060, which introduces the teaching of water into school programmes. safety at work in the field of civic education.

ASITA conference 2024

ASITA 2024 will be held in Padova from 9 to 13 December and will be a great opportunity to highlight the contribution that Geomatics can provide in various application and research fields to public and private entities and to bring the world of research and the Academy into dialogue with that of professions, businesses and institutions in order to listen to their needs and adequately direct their efforts.

Innovation and transformation in landslide risk management in Italy

The aim of the event is to verify the state of knowledge in the characterization and perimeter of landslide phenomena, over 20 years after the promulgation of the laws establishing the hydrogeological management plans (PAI). These plans, initially focused on the knowledge and delimitation of the areas at risk, have seen a regulatory evolution that has refined the fields of application, as highlighted by the Prime Ministerial Decree of 8 May 2015. However, the lack of uniform criteria in the definition of landslide risk remains a critical point. More than a quarter of a century after the founding laws, there is a need to review the methodological approaches that led to the current cognitive framework in light of scientific advances, regional inhomogeneities, innovative technologies, climate changes and new legislation.

From land to Earth. The soil between climate changes and new lifestyles

The event will be an opportunity to start a debate between representatives of the sector and reflect on the importance of soil, its role in combating ongoing climate change and the objectives to be achieved to protect and preserve it.

The new procedures for submitting the national environmental impact assessment

Analysis of the rules, mechanisms and sector regulations

The seminar aims to examine in detail the regulatory and procedural aspects, both at a national and regional level, which govern the different phases of the environmental impact assessment for the construction or modification of plants from renewable sources. The meeting is part of the ambitious development objectives planned for the coming years, as well as the most recent political-regulatory guidelines on environmental sustainability.

Screening of the documentary “Cities Under Pressure” in Brussels

An analysis of the impact of geology and climate change on cities
On 4 December, at the Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels, an exclusive screening of the documentary Cities Under Pressure was held, an analysis of the impact of urban geology and climate change on European cities. The event saw the participation of European exponents from the world of geology, important European organizations working on the sustainability of urban environments and numerous young secondary school students, the future inhabitants and users of our cities.

Cultivating the Future: Science, Policy and Innovation for the Health and Fertility of Italian Soils

EJP SOIL final conference
In conjunction with World Soil Day, CREA, in collaboration with the European soil research program EJP SOIL, the national soil coordination Soil Hub and National Rural Network, presents the final national event of the EJP SOIL program. The event, entitled "Cultivating the Future: Science, Policy and Innovation for the Health and Fertility of Italian Soils", represents an important opportunity to promote collaboration between researchers, politicians and professionals in the agricultural sector, such as producer organisations, agronomists, consultants, technicians and agricultural entrepreneurs. The objective is to provide knowledge and concrete operational tools to improve soil management and raise public awareness of the importance of soil health and fertility, as well as sustainable agricultural practices.

The effects of the new European legislation on ecodesign and 'Green Claims' on voluntary EMAS, Ecolabel and Made Green in Italy certifications

The conference "The implications of the new European legislation on ecodesign and 'Green Claims' on voluntary EMAS, Ecolabel and Made Green in Italy certifications" will be held on 9 December in Florence, organized by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security in collaboration with the Ecolabel and Ecoaudit Committee and with the Istituto Superiore S. Anna of Pisa. The event is dedicated to the examination of voluntary certification systems as fundamental tools for the competitiveness of companies in light of the recent regulatory developments that are emerging on the EU legislation front, starting from the new regulation on the Ecodesign of products (regulation EU 2024/1781) and the directives on “Greenwashing” and “Green Claims”.

Climate Change and Cetaceans in the Mediterranean: a strong reduction in the conditions suitable for the survival of some species is estimated in 25 years

The warming of the Mediterranean Sea is proceeding at a faster rate than the global average, putting all the species that live there at serious risk. Cetaceans are no exception, present with 11 regular species in the Mediterranean, which can respond to variations in climatic conditions by moving, but also conditioned by the distribution of their prey.

The other side of the moon: climate change adaptation in multilevel governance

The seminar "The other side of the moon: adaptation to climate change in multilevel governance" is scheduled for Thursday 5 December at 2.00 pm, at the headquarters of the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna.

Territories and sustainable development objectives

The presentation event of the ASviS Report on Territories 2024 will be held on 13 December in Rome. The document illustrates, through data and graphs, the positioning of Regions, Provinces, metropolitan cities, urban areas and Municipalities with respect to the achievement of the 17 Development Objectives sustainability (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, but not only.

The research also includes a review of international and European experiences of territorialization of the SDGs; explores the implementation of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development and its repercussions on local authorities; analyzes territorial inequalities and cohesion policies from both a European and national point of view; identifies the natural and anthropogenic risks that our country is facing, such as heat waves, desertification and forest fires. The final chapters are dedicated respectively to a selection of good practices already implemented in the territories and the ASviS proposals on priority themes.

Strategies for the Climate Transition: cities and territories as protagonists

The conference, organized by the Cariplo Foundation, will explore concrete actions to combat climate change and strategies for communicating it, with interventions by experts and national and international case studies. The day includes insights into local projects, technical sessions and debates with journalists, researchers and activists. An ISPRA expert will also participate in the conference.

ISPRA protagonist of the Italy-China Week of Science, Technology and Innovation

The 13th edition of the Italy-China Week of Science, Technology and Innovation begins today (26-28 November – Naples, Venice) to discuss the value of science and technology in tackling the great challenges of our time. The event takes place as part of the Italy-China bilateral scientific and technological cooperation program and is promoted by the Governments of the two countries through the Ministry of University and Research of the Italian Republic and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic Popular Chinese. The program is coordinated, for Italy, by the Idis-Città della Scienza Foundation in collaboration with the National Research Council.

Waste management and energy transition: challenges and opportunities in the new circular economy scenario

The event intends to deepen the debate on the challenges and opportunities related to waste management and the circular economy, analyzing how current needs and practices are rapidly evolving, paving the way for new business models. Furthermore, to identify best practices and winning strategies to address the challenges of the sector and understand how emerging technologies, together with innovative business models, can help transform the way we think about and manage waste.