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ClimChAlp is a 3-year INTERREG III B project that aims to develop transnational strategies for the prevention of climate change risk and adaptation strategies in the Alpine Space. The project contributes to sustainable development of the Alps as concerns territorial planning and natural hazards, as well as socio-economic aspects. Under the co-ordination of the Euro-Mediterranean Center for Climate Change (CMCC), FEEM is responsible for studying the economic implications of climate change on Alpine tourism and agriculture.

ClimChAlp aims to develop transnational strategies for the prevention of the climate change risk and adaptation strategies in the Alpine Space. The project contributes to sustainable development of the Alps in the fields of territorial planning and natural hazards, and in their socio-economic aspects.

The scientific activities are organized in four thematic areas.They consist in a synopsis of existing information on historical and recent climate change in the Alps, a comparison, assessment and enhancement of present monitoring techniques, prediction and assessment of potential impacts of climate change on spatial development and key economic sectors (e.g. tourism, mobility, agriculture, forestry, settlements, industries), an in-depth analysis of current management tools and practices of the Alpine countries dealing with natural hazards, a recapitulating synthesis of the results attained in order to get a better understanding of the current and future impacts of climate change to the Alps.

The Italian Ministry of the Environment and Territory (MATTM), in its position of official partner of this project, has stipulated an agreement with the Euro-Mediterranean Center for Climate Change (CMCC) for the development of the MATTM technical and scientific activities and in particular:

  • A synopsis of existing information on historical and recent climate change in the Alps;
  • Assessment of climate models at the regional level and review of the scientific and climatologist results;
  • Elaboration of predictions and research hypothesis on climate change;
  • Preparation of in-depth reports and e-material on the activities of project group dealing with climate chage;
  • Study of critical climate change factors: evolution of climate change regarding land-use, impact on services, eco-systems and territorial and economic development, review of socio-economic assessment prepared during the project;
  • Design of dissemination actions (e.g. web site).

FEEM, Università della Tuscia, Cooperativa Editoriale Stoà, and the Accademia Europea di Bolzano are CMCC partners in this project. In particular, FEEM is responsible for the socio-economic aspects of the project which will be focussed on the specific thematic areas of economic implications of climate change on Alpine tourism and agriculture.

The project is due to conclude officially the mid March 2008. Main scientific outcomes are now available for the Italian Alps.

The research highlights that climate change can exert relevant impacts on tourism and agriculture in the Italian Alps. Winter tourism is expected to suffer particularly. It is estimated that for an average temperature increase of 4°C, only the 20% of the 167 sky resorts presently operating in the Italian Alpine arc can remain “snow reliable”. This, in the absence of adaptation measures, can translate in a direct economic loss ranging from roughly 13 million Euros in Friuli Venezia Giulia to the 139 millions of Alto Adige. This picture is confirmed even when considering the impacts of climate change on all year long tourism. Albeit with regional differences, the Italian Alpine area as a whole is expected to suffer an average contraction of tourism demand of the 10.8% in 2090.

The biggest source of negative impacts for agriculture seems to be associated to the change in precipitation regimes and to extreme weather events. More infrequent, but more intense precipitations are likely to increase run-off with a detrimental effect on soil fertility, and increase hydro-geological risk, threatening cultivations and forest system stability.

Another area of vulnerability for the forestry system is represented by biodiversity loss, which appears to be proceeding already at particularly dramatic rates.Both sectors can exploit effective adaptation strategies.

Tourism can benefit from technical measures (mainly artificial snow making and slope protection), behavioural (supply diversification), financial (insurance), agriculture from changes in crops’ type, timing, early waning systems etc. However still crucial the need remains for a more precise assessment of the costs of these adaptation options.

The Alps are particularly exposed to climate change: recent warming in the area has been roughly three times the global average. Projected changes in the coming decades include: a reduction in snow cover at low altitudes, receding glaciers and melting permafrost at higher altitudes, sharp shifts in temperatures and extreme precipitations. In addition, climate change is impacting a critical economic and ecological system, which is already vulnerable to natural hazards as well as demographic and environmental pressures. Accordingly, in the Alpine area, internationally coordinated mitigation policies should be integrated with regional and sectoral adaptation strategies to govern these changes.

The ClimChAlp Interreg III B Alpine Space project aims at supporting the political decisions regarding social economic development in the Alpine areas incorporating climate change pressures in long-term planning. This has been done by providing a synopsis of existing information on historical and recent climate change in the Alps, a comparison, assessment and enhancement of present monitoring techniques, prediction and assessment of potential impacts of climate change on spatial development and key economic sectors (e.g. tourism, mobility, agriculture, forestry, settlements, industries), an in-depth analysis of current management tools and practices of the Alpine countries dealing with natural hazards, a recapitulating synthesis of the results attained in order to get a better understanding of the current and future impacts of climate change to the Alps.

FEEM ‘s task is to provide an economic assessment of climate change impacts in the Italian alpine regions on the tourism and agricultural sector, and to discuss main opportunities for adaptation strategies.