Ferrara

Ferrara (Italy) is a medium-sized city located between Bologna and Venice, along the Po river, with an overall population of 130.000 inhabitants distributed over an area of 400 km2. 

The urban development that occurred during the Renaissance, the Herculean Addition, transformed the city into an urban model that earned the title of "the first modern capital of Europe". In 1995 Ferrara gained UNESCO world heritage site recognition for its historical centre and in 1999 obtained a second one for the Po Delta and its Estense delights. It is an important university site (University of Ferrara) with 20.000 students from all part of Italy.

European Green Deal priority actions

Climate change (flooding e hot spot), air quality, biodiversity, renewable energy, mobility: these priorities are identified in the Administration's planning tools: PUG (under adoption), PUMS, SECAP.

The issue of climate change was addressed in 2019 within the new SECAP (Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan) by identifying 37 mitigation actions and 25 adaptation actions.

The adaptation strategy is aimed at reducing vulnerability and is based on five principles:

1. Increase public awareness of climate change

2. Improve technical and technological capabilities in preparation for the consequences of climate change (in particular, it is considered to enhance in the medium term the regulation of the waters of our territory (for the risks of floods and flooding) and the social welfare services aimed at assisting the population weak to extreme heat, extreme cold, exceptional meteorological precipitations);

3. Disseminate information regarding vulnerability, risks and climate adaptation within local policies and other instruments (town planning and regulations, more widespread dissemination of climate risk maps and civil protection plans);

4. Increase the adaptive capacity of buildings, human and natural systems through: increase of urban green areas and adapted urban spaces against heat waves - permeable pavements - incentive to increase the percentage of permeability in private properties - recovery of rainwater - development of specific silvicultural interventions and water resource saving techniques in agriculture.

5. Strengthen the partnership between communities and all stakeholders affected by the problem of climate change.

Challenges to be faced

The Municipality aims at redesigning the city making it more resilient to climate change with actions such as increasing urban forest, expanding green spaces, de-paving squares, ensuring good soil permeability, equipping public buildings with green facades/roofs and photovoltaic panels.

It is also required to increase the involvement of citizens through specific campaigns and make them aware of the changes linked to the climate and the need to modify individual behaviors, for example to improve air quality with soft mobility.

Expected impact of USAGE

A successful demonstrator with an advanced monitoring system on heat island impacts and heavy flash flooding events, with the active engagement of citizens, high schools and other local stakeholders in Citizen Science initiatives.