Environment & Climate

Climate change and environmental damage are urgent issues for the European Union and across the globe, as their effects are already being felt. For this reason there is a need to adapt more quickly and comprehensively. Climate change in fact has already led to damages to nature, losses in biodiversity and is affecting the lives of billions of people around the world, harming people’s health, their ability to grow food, housing, safety and work. Not only at European level but also at global one, environment represents a strategic priority to be addressed.

At the European level, the European Green Deal is the response of the Commission to climate and environmental-related challenges. It is a new growth strategy that aims to transform the Union into a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy. The goal of the Commission is to turn Europe into the first climate neutral continent by 2050, with no more net emissions of greenhouse gasses, aiming at an economic growth that is decoupled from resource use, without any person or place left behind.

On an international level, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

While working to reach its core objectives towards the promotion of good governance and citizens’ participation at the local level, ALDA has put environment and sustainability at the core of its strategic plan 2020-2024, representing now one of its pivotal points. In line with the European Green Deal’s objectives, ALDA is collaborating with local, metropolitan and regional authorities and international key stakeholders to contribute to the new European growth strategy, thus putting its innovative methodology at the service of the fight against climate change and environmental degradation.

The project LIFE Metro Adapt – Strategies and Measures for Adaptation to Climate Change, has emerged as the winner of the prestigious LIFE Awards 2023. The project triumphed in the “Climate Action” category and was recognised by a panel of eminent European experts. The jury, chaired by renowned Australian agronomist Tony Rinaudo, recognised the project’s outstanding efforts to combat climate change and promote resilience in urban areas.

Led by the Environmental and Territorial Protection Area of the Metropolitan City of Milan, in partnership with ALDA and other respected organisations, Metro Adapt has been instrumental in disseminating knowledge, techniques and strategies to combat climate change throughout the metropolitan area. One of the key objectives of the project was to promote the development of effective adaptation measures, with a particular focus on Nature Based Solutions (NBS). Inspired by nature, this innovative engineering aims to enhance urban resilience by mimicking and replicating its elements.

From a general standpoint, as it happened already during the COP26, in the occasion of the COP27, which took place in Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt), ALDA contributed with inputs and initiatives to meet the goals of the Conference itself. Besides, as a partner of the “Climate of Change” Project, the Association has been able to advocate on climate actions to take, in regard to climate induced migration. Specifically, 5 youth ambassadors delivered the “Climate of Change” petition, entitled “End climate change, start #ClimateOfChange!” and signed by more than 150.000 people, to the policy-makers joining the COP27.