Fondazione Cariplo has launched the F2C – Fondazione Cariplo per il Clima (Fondazione Cariplo for the Climate) project, which supports the implementation of Climate Transition Strategies (CTS) in 2020. It now provides financial and technical assistance to 12 territories, defining an internal taxonomy to help in the drafting of the plans themselves.

“A serious problem is the lack of cross-functionality between different local government departments. There are situations where some departments are simultaneously proceeding with advanced adaptation plans, including depaving and concrete removal, while other departments in the same municipality are approving works that do not take current climate conditions into account,” Federico Beffa, programme officer at Fondazione Cariplo, told ClimateAdaptation.life.


In defining new philanthropic tools, Fondazione Cariplo consults with external experts. The work then focuses on interaction with the local area and the drafting of plans that must then be approved at the local level. The strategies contain various actions, not only for climate change mitigation and adaptation, but also a review of urban planning tools from a climate perspective, including monitoring and capacity building activities for public officials.

In line with most academic research and US best practices, Fondazione Cariplo promotes adaptation measures, especially in areas where vulnerable individuals are most prevalent. This occurs in various territories with different morphologies and demographics, despite the territorial focus on Lombardy, Italy's wealthiest region. The measures include activities in two mountain communities, five groups of municipalities, and five provincial capitals.

"The actions are still being implemented, and we do not yet have the final results, but we can say that, overall, the territories have already proceeded with the reforestation of 50 hectares of urban and pseudo-urban areas and the depaving of approximately 120,000 square meters. In particular, the depaving activities have a total cost of €6.5 million: €2 million provided by the Cariplo Foundation, €2 million by the Lombardy region, and €2.5 million allocated by the local territories," said Beffa.

Every month or month and a half, Fondazione Cariplo coordinates with the technicians involved in regional projects to provide an update on the progress of the actions. The problem of skills among local officials remains, especially in municipalities.

"Even when skills are acquired, they are almost never disseminated across the entire municipality. There is a difficulty in understanding the real benefits of climate adaptation actions at many levels," said Beffa.

The Fondazione Cariplo program officer then highlights the political issues: if even politicians have difficulty understanding the value of such an intervention, it is difficult to get the message across and create the necessary debate. “This is especially true when it comes to removing parking spaces, which is a taboo at the political level.”

Beffa then stressed that timing is necessary to prevent climate adaptation costs from increasing disproportionately.

“It is better to plan urban intervention as soon as possible: investments cannot be confined to one-off actions, they require a coherent plan, starting with depaving, moving on to the use of colors, and ending with rain gardens and permeable paving,” said Beffa, concluding that even the initiatives carried out at the national level in Italy by the Covenant of Mayors (Action Plan for Sustainable Energy and Climate - Paesc) are too vague.