Simplified climate proofing procedure for the adaptation pillar for buildings-small infrastructures
About this good practice
Climate Proofing (CP): a process that integrates climate change mitigation and adaptation measures into the development of infrastructure projects.
The EC “Technical guidance” provides a reference methodology for CP. It's structured, for the mitigation and adaptation pillars, into a screening and an in-depth analysis phase. Such guidance stands at a high level and beneficiaries applying CP for the first time need to be closely accompanied through the process, by more case-specific and scale specific guidelines.
In Lombardy, the first structured experiences in applying CP are being developed within the 2021-27 ERDF Program.
The practice was developed for calls for buildings and small infrastructures and it focuses on the "adaptation" pillar.
The methodology is developed for a selection of the climate hazards that are most significant in the region (heat, floods and landslides, windstorms, and drought). For these it is proposed a guided simplified procedure, consisting in one step assessment, leading to the adaptation measures identification.
The procedure includes the use of:
• climate hazard exposure maps (available as open data)
• checklists for sensitivity analysis
• list of adaptation measures for the infrastructure design
The maps were produced through the combination of different climate indicators for each risk and present the exposure levels into three qualitative classes (high, medium, low), facilitating their direct application in the climate proofing methodology.
Resources needed
The methodology was defined within the activities of the Regional Environmental Authority (REA) technical assistance (TA).
TA’s resources: an interdisciplinary WG made of environmental engineers/scientists totaling 1 FTE.
“Maps” were made by the Regional Environment Protection Agency (ARPA).
Evidence of success
• So far, the methodology has been applied in 4 ERDF calls for proposals (buildings, urban regeneration and small-scale RES plants).
• It enabled the beneficiaries to develop the CP and to implement adaptation measures without the need for specific climate expertise.
• Where the was an option to choose different methodologies for CP, applicants electively used the simplified approach to address CP, resulting in an easier and quicker process both for applicants and projects evaluators.
Potential for learning or transfer
This practice solves some issues that are commonly faced, such as complexity of CP, the variety of the beneficiaries, the need for progressive and tailored approaches.
It is a way to support the beneficiaries throughout the process by providing a simplified methodology that is scientifically sound, effective and proportional to the beneficiaries’ resources.
The approach was weighted on the scale of the initiatives and thought in a cost-benefit balance and it was tuned with the expected impacts.
The simplified maps can be developed also by other regions, selecting the climate hazards that are most significant in the region, and the checklists for the sensibility analysis can be adapted to the specificities of each call.
The methodology used by ARPA in the elaboration of the maps could be used by other regions as reference, as it is available for consultation.
A set of adaptation measures is also being developed and could be shared in the future.
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Good practice owner
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