Adapting to the climate crisis is a long and necessary process. And in Rimini we saw that it works, and how. Europe is accelerating on climate adaptation. In Rimini, urban projects, technologies and participation show how to face the crisis.
In Rimini, climate adaptation was very much on the agenda. And not only during the plenary sessions or technical panels of Ecca 2025 – the European climate change adaptation conference – but also while walking through the city's streets. As Europe grapples with increasingly extreme weather events, what emerged forcefully from this edition is that the research community and a significant part of the institutional world are working to design concrete responses. From coastal areas to cities, from transport to energy, through to the direct involvement of citizens: adaptation is no longer a marginal topic, but a strategic priority for the future.
One of the central messages launched by Ecca 2025 is that adaptation cannot be imposed from above. "We need a pact of trust between science and society," said Cmcc president Antonio Navarra during the opening day. "Adaptation is a marathon, not a sprint." The conference's inaugural plenary – hosted by the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change – highlighted the testimonies of those working in the field every day: from the city of Marseille to the Dutch water authority Rijn & Ijssel, along with numerous European projects combining scientific data, local policies and participation. The feeling? That out there are too many Cassandras speaking without real awareness. Of course, not everything is certain – science is uncertain by definition.
Among the most widely discussed topics was that of nature-based solutions (Nature-based solutions) for strengthening the resilience of coastal areas. From the case of the Venice lagoon to the Rest-Coast project, taking in examples from Tuscany, Croatia and Belgium, participants reflected on what makes these solutions effective and how to replicate them in different contexts. Silvia Torresan of Cmcc explained how the restoration of submerged seagrass meadows and lagoon saltmarshes is now at the heart of a project integrating climate modelling, real-world data and community engagement.
Advanced tools such as the Digital twin of the coastal ocean, presented by Giovanni Coppini, demonstrated how technology can support rapid and effective decision-making. This "digital twin" makes it possible to simulate the impact of barriers, wetlands or coastal infrastructure on erosion and water quality. And not only in Europe: Cmcc is applying this approach in vulnerable contexts such as the Gulf of Guinea and Bangladesh, where low-cost monitoring and citizen science are becoming essential tools.
You don't need to look far to see adaptation in action. You just have to look at piazza Kennedy in Rimini, where one of Italy's most innovative hydraulic projects lies hidden. It all began with an extreme event: the 2011 flood, when more than 1,300 cubic metres of water fell on a single hectare in 48 hours, causing the sewage system to overflow and bringing wastewater into the city centre. Since then, the city chose not to simply repair the damage, but to radically rethink water management.
This gave rise to the Piano di salvaguardia della balneazione ottimizzato (Psbo): 14 construction sites, 154 million euros invested and an ambitious goal – always swimmable and clean sea by 2024. The heart of the system lies directly beneath piazza Kennedy, where two colossal tanks have been built 40 metres underground, capable of holding a combined total of almost 40,000 cubic metres of rainwater. An intelligent collection and treatment system, equipped with activated carbon filtration to eliminate bad odours, connected to the Santa Giustina treatment plant, which processes the wastewater of more than half a million people, including those from the neighbouring state of San Marino.
Above this infrastructure, two architectural belvederes integrate the plant into the urban landscape, giving the city back a liveable, beautiful and resilient public space. A textbook case, so much so that Rimini has been included in the "Green and Circular Cities" report by the Italian-Latin American organisation IILA and Symbola, as an example of good urban practice in the water sector.
Another pillar to emerge is the fundamental role of citizen participation. "An action only works if it is shared," stressed researcher Paola Mercogliano. "When people understand what is being done and why, they are more likely to support and sustain measures over time." This is precisely what the Adaptation AGORA project, co-funded by the European Union, works on: creating a road map for engaging citizens and stakeholders, offering training tools, spaces for dialogue and a platform for sharing good practices.
Involving people, especially the most vulnerable, is not only the right thing to do: it is effective. However, this engagement needs to be funded and different languages must be used to speak to students, journalists, local communities and the elderly. Also to combat climate disinformation, which remains a huge barrier to participation.
Among the significant announcements was the relaunch of the Citizen energy package, promoted by the European Commission. The aim is to place citizens at the centre of the energy transition, with concrete tools for energy communities, building renovation for those living in energy poverty, and a training plan for workers and technicians. As underlined by Deputy Director-General Mechthild Wörsdörfer during the first day, this is a fair, equitable and inclusive package, aimed at strengthening the energy autonomy of European households.
ECCA 2025 left a clear message: climate adaptation is a challenge, certainly. And the response can only be systemic, participatory and scientifically grounded. From data to territories, from technologies to social inclusion, Europe – despite everything – continues to be a laboratory of solutions.