The INTERREG Italy-Croatia Joint_SECAP Project: A Collaborative Approach for Adaptation Planning

Abstract

With regard to the scientific debate which highlights the potential of joint climate planning, there are few concrete experiences in Europe where this approach has been applied. This contribution focuses on critical methodological and application aspects of the processes underlying the development of Joint Plans for Sustainable Energy and Climate in the supra-municipal area as emerged from the direct participation of the authors in the Joint_SECAP project funded by the Interreg Italia-Croatia programme. This paper presents a comparative analysis of nine case studies in Italy and Croatia with a focus on fundamental aspects of the planning process: the governance model, shared knowledge framework, risk and vulnerability assessment, and participatory process. The analysis and comparison of the Joint_SECAP experiences confirm that joint climate planning, developed in the framework of the European Covenant of Mayors (CoM) initiative, is effective for creating synergy between local authorities and for defining and implementing strategies and actions for adaptation to the territorial scale. Finally, the research indicates some recommendations to overcome the barriers that impede the spread and effectiveness of this approach to climate planning. In particular, it highlights the need to enhance collaboration between local authorities, regions, and CoM coordinators.

Wetland Contracts As Sustainable Governance Tools: A Com-Parison Between the Output of the Interreg Project CREW “Co-Ordinated Wetland Management in Italy-Croatia Cross Border Region”

“…To conclude, it is important to point out the impact of cross-border exchange has on the parallel processes of Wetland Contracts [37]. The continuous exchange between the partners' experiences, in fact, has primarily strengthened cross-border relations, not only in terms of sharing methodologies and Contract development strategies, but also in terms of mutual support and help in the most delicate phases of Contract development.…”

Energy-Climate Transition in Tourism Destinations in Croatia

“…The Covenant of Mayors initiated and embodied the formal voluntary engagement of all councils, cities, and regions. Brownlee et al (2022) point out that the joint climate planning developed under the European Covenant of Mayors initiative is effective in creating synergies among local authorities and in defining and implementing adaptation strategies and actions at the territorial level.…”

Temporary Climate Change Adaptation: 5 Measures for Outdoor Spaces of the Mid-Adriatic City

“…The plan defines a set of comprehensive measures that a municipality intends to implement on the basis of an assessment of risks and vulnerabilities induced by climate change. In this context, the Interreg Italy-Croatia Joint_SECAP (Joint Strategies for Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal Areas) project, conducted between 2019 and 2021, stems from the desire to bring together neighboring territories and build a common methodology to define joint SECAPs focused on sharing knowledge on climate change adaptation and mitigation measures for coastal areas of the Adriatic (Brownlee et al 2022). The partnership was formed by a network of eight Italian and Croatian partners who have identified at least one target area in contiguous municipalities, on which they carried out the experimentation, in collaboration with local institutions.…”