CAAB Attends First-Ever Mediterranean Forum for EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change in Bologna
The first-ever Mediterranean Forum for the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change – bridging local and regional government, research, academia and industry from Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Cyprus, Malta and other Mediterranean countries – was held in Bologna on June 19, 2025. CAAB, as an affiliated member of Bologna Missione Clima and participant of several Horizon Europe projects, was in attendance, where the first part of the session took place at Tecnopolo Data Valley Hub, followed by an evening networking reception at Bologna’s central library: Salaborsa.
The event encompassed a number of panel discussions, focusing on topics including Building resilience in the Mediterranean through local action and regional collaboration; Rethinking planning and resilience considerations; Ensuring local citizen engagement; and Scaling climate preparedness across the Mediterranean. The event also featured opening and closing remarks from Matteo Lepore, Mayor, City of Bologna; Michele de Pascale, President, Emilia-Romagna Region; Anna Lisa Boni, Deputy Mayor of Bologna; and Antonio Navarra, President, Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC), among many local and regional actors.
During the first panel discussion about harboring local action through regional collaboration, Kostas Bakoyannis, Chair of the ENVE Commission of the European Committee of the Regions opened with the following statement: “we are in crisis.”
“Let me repeat, we are in a true crisis.”
Kostas Bakoyannis followed his statement by saying that geopolitics plays an important role in climate policy and climate action, and despite being amidst global wars and combating housing crises and rising unaffordability, regional and local governments need to form coalitions to action new climate policies and keep the climate crisis top-of-mind.
When the importance of citizen engagement was discussed, Anthony Zacharzewski, President and Co-Founder, Democratic Society spoke about the importance of citizen action but noted the crucial role of government and political leadership to champion climate initiatives, since these policies require long-term planning and implementation: anywhere from 10 to 30 years from initial planning stages to execution.
Citizen engagement is important for active participation of its members, especially during city-wide climate disasters, pointed out José Segarra, Ambassador of the European Climate Pact. He pointed out that citizens are more incentivized to help and restore their own cities after climate disasters – such as large-scale floods impacting school closures, roadways etc. Knowing this, local governments need to be prepared with action plans and activities in how they can engage and leverage the aid of its own citizens to ensure better resilience and city restoration.
Where there are heat waves, there are also increases in flooding and other climate disasters, and we have seen this across various cities throughout the Mediterranean.
“We need to set the ‘climate to change’,” said Anna Lisa Boni in her closing statements.
Anna Lisa Boni continued her statement with the work the City of Bologna is doing to improve city greenery, build new tram lines, and other climate-focused initiatives to “cool” the urban city centre, but how more climate resilience is still needed in Bologna, especially with ongoing risks for heat waves and flooding.
Deputy Mayor, Emily Marion Clancy – one of the most sought-after and youngest elected officials within the City of Bologna – also spoke about Bologna Verde: a plan to make the city greener by actively involving residents and environmental groups, supported by cultural and educational programs on nature, the environment, and sustainability. Some of these pilots will include more integration of greenery and water fountains into urban spaces.
At CAAB, we are proud to be a part of Horizon EU project, CARMINE, that is setting the stage for environmental and social impact within the Metropolitan region of Bologna by ensuring more equitable access for fresh food for the most vulnerable citizens of the region amidst the growing concerns for climate disasters, including heat waves. Part of the strategies discussed (and thematic frameworks and tools created) will be to work with the City of Bologna to develop more policies for nature-based solutions (NbS). Learn more about CARMINE here.
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EU Missions are a new way to bring concrete solutions to some of our greatest challenges. They have ambitious goals and will deliver concrete results by 2030. Learn more about EU Missions here.
Bologna was chosen as one of 112 EU Mission Cities committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2030, as part of a broader effort to meet ambitious climate goals and transform itself into a leading smart city. Learn more about Bologna Missione Clima here.
