CLIMAAX in Bolzano: Co-Designing Climate Resilience through Dialogue and Data
Today, the second workshop of the European-funded project CLIMAAX took place in Bolzano / Bozen, bringing together institutions, experts, stakeholders, and citizens to collectively reflect on the future climate resilience of the city.
As part of CLIMAAX, the flagship project of the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, the Municipality of Bolzano is developing the sub-project BOMAAX, focused on two of the city’s most urgent climate risks: heatwaves and intense rainfall events. Led by LAND Italia and LAND Research Lab with the support of an interdisciplinary team, the project aims to strengthen local climate adaptation strategies through integrated risk assessment, data-driven analysis, and participatory planning processes.
The second stakeholder workshop marked an important milestone in the project, presenting the activities and results developed during the first year of work, while opening a direct dialogue with local actors and community representatives. Particular attention was dedicated to the needs of the most vulnerable population groups, recognizing climate adaptation as both an environmental and social challenge.
The morning opened with institutional greetings by Marco Caruso, Councillor for Environment, Geology and Energy of the Municipality of Bolzano, followed by contributions from Emanuele Sascor, Director of the Office of Geology, Civil Protection and Energy, and Roberto Vaccaro, project coordinator for the Municipality.
Following the presentation of the first analytical findings by Valentina Galiulo, Lorenzo Pirosa, Gianluca Antonacci and David Calas, participants engaged in thematic workshops exploring risks, vulnerabilities, and opportunities connected to the climate future of Bolzano. The discussions highlighted the importance of combining technical expertise with local knowledge, transforming participation into an active tool for shaping resilient urban strategies.
More than a technical exercise, CLIMAAX represents an opportunity to rethink how cities respond to climate uncertainty: not only through mitigation measures, but by building shared awareness, strengthening ecological resilience, and reconnecting communities with the landscapes they inhabit.
Because climate adaptation begins with understanding territory not as a constraint, but as a living system full of potential.
