News

Desertification and drought day 2024. Annex IV regional event

Hungary, in its role as Chair of the countries included in the Northern Mediterranean Annex IV of the UNCCD, organized an online event in the context of the celebrations of the World Desertification Day and the thirtieth anniversary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification which took place will be held on June 24th.

Soil health between consumption and degradation: European policies for the commons

ISPRA and the Tor Vergata University, as part of the collaboration on the topic of environmental sustainability in land use and territorial planning, are organizing a first scientific comparison seminar to highlight the relationship between policies, regulations and conditions of the soil.
In-depth analyzes of national, European and international experiences are expected, with reference to the aspects of land degradation, desertification risk, provision of soil ecosystem services, land consumption and sustainable use, with particular reference to target 15.3.1 of the sustainable development objectives ( Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda.

Critical raw materials law decree, the role of ISPRA

Approved on 20 June in the Council of Ministers, the Legislative Decree on the management of critical raw materials which adapts the national system to the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024. The Legislative Decree introduces urgent provisions to ensure a safe and sustainable supply of critical raw materials.

Sea and lakes: 95% of Italian bathing waters are excellent

The excellence of Italian bathing waters will also be confirmed in 2024. On the basis of the monitoring activities of the National Environmental Protection System, the classification of the stretches of coast used for bathing has been updated. The results show that 5,090 km of marine stretches (95.6% of the monitored coast) are included in the "excellent" quality class, the highest foreseen by the European classification system. If we also add the sections with a "good" classification (153 kilometres, equal to 2.9% of the total) we arrive at 98.5%. Furthermore, 32 km (0.6%) fall into the "sufficient" quality class, 44 km into "poor" quality (0.8%).

Seminar for SNPA workers on safety at work

A national technical meeting promoted by the National System for Environmental Protection and aimed at employers, employees and managers of the prevention and protection services of ISPRA and Arpa is underway in Rome at the ISPRA headquarters.

Coordinated by the SNPA Occupational Health and Safety Observatory, the seminar intends to compare the good practices adopted by the Agencies, the regulatory evolution regarding workplace safety, the delegation of functions, the aspects of health surveillance, training, safety for people with disabilities, asbestos risk. The main objective is to promote the reduction of accidents and occupational diseases in Arpa and ISPRA, through the drafting of guidelines, guidelines, shared good practices and through the provision of specialist training.
A task that has matured over time thanks to twenty years of experience on these issues, starting in 2004 when the first inter-agency Center for Hygiene and Safety at Work was created, which later became the Network of Representatives and finally the Observatory.

Web site SNPA 

Access to ISPRA environmental data

From the "Access to environmental data" page it is possible to consult and download all the environmental data produced by ISPRA.

Environmental data and indicators divided by thematic area, transversal navigation portals: Environmental Data Yearbook, EcoAtlante, database on the quality of the Urban Environment. Linked Open Data, PA open data portal, National Repertoire of Territorial Data (RNDT), SCHEMA - national catalog of data semantics.

XIII Italian Congress of Theriology

The Congress is an important opportunity for the exchange of experiences and knowledge on the biology, ecology and conservation of mammals in Italy, between researchers, students, sector experts and public administrators.

The Congress is organized by the Italian Theriological Association ETS in collaboration with the Biosciences and Territory Department of the University of Molise.

New edition of the Odori School in October 2024: call for abstracts

The new edition of the "Scuola Odori 2024", organized by RSE (Research on the energy system) and ISPRA, in collaboration with the National System for Environmental Protection, Uni, Accredia, Unichim, will take place from 1 to 10 October 2024.
A call for abstracts is open: interested SNPA operators, laboratories, researchers, companies, universities and public administrations can send an abstract relating to the intervention proposed for the event by 31 July 2024

In a world of plastic let's make the difference

General Assembly 2024 Confindustria Cisambiente

The conference "In a world of plastic let's make the difference" will be held on 26 June in the Pininfarina hall of Confindustria. The ISPRA DG Maria Siclari, will participate in the event.

How to quickly classify and evaluate geo-climatic problems and city hazards?

Discovering the Urban Geo-Climatic Footprint: from its recent innovations to the global application of the tool

The webinar aims to present a new methodology called Urban Geo-Climatic Footprint (UGF) which has been developed to quickly and comprehensively classify cities from a geological and climatic perspective. The method is based on the fundamental assumption that cities with similar geological-geographical environments will face similar challenges, due to both common geological problems and associated climate impacts. The UGF approach was applied to 41 European cities in collaboration with 17 European Geological Services. For those who are already involved in the project and have tested the tool in their cities, this webinar will be interesting for introducing the latest version 9.0 of the tool and its global applicability

Water intelligence. The evolution of technologies dedicated to water management

The ecological and digital transitions intersect on the management of water resources, to allow a more rational use of water, reducing waste and directing consumption towards sustainability: these are the main themes of the Water intelligence report that will be presented on June 20th

UN convention to combat desertification: 1 billion hectares of degraded areas must be recovered by 2030

June 17: World Day to Fight Desertification and Drought

In Italy, the territory shows clear signs of degradation, which manifests itself in different forms, from erosion to salinisation, from compaction to contamination and waterproofing. Calculating the main indicators adopted by the United Nations for the calculation of degraded areas, i.e. the state and trend of land cover, productivity and organic carbon content, in 2019, 17.4% of the national surface area is in a state of degradation . The areas are distributed throughout the territory.

Globally, with a synthetic image proposed by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), every second the equivalent of four football fields of healthy soil is degraded, for a total of 100 million hectares every year and commitments have already been promoted for the recovery of 1 billion hectares of degraded areas by 2030. Among the most relevant political initiatives, the G20 countries have declared their desire to halve degraded areas by 2040.

According to Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of the UNCCD, “Up to 40% of the world's land is already degraded, affecting almost half of humanity. Yet solutions are on the table. Land restoration lifts people out of poverty and strengthens resilience to climate change. It's time to unite for the land and show the red card to land loss and degradation around the world."

Strategy for the marine environment. Public consultation 2024

On 14 June 2024, in implementation of the art. 16 of Legislative Decree 190/2010, the public consultation has been opened for the update of the Environmental Assessment, the definition of Good Environmental Status (GES) and the definition of the Environmental Goals (Targets) of the Marine Strategy Directive (Directive 2008 /56/EC) referred to in articles. 8, 9 and 10 of Legislative Decree 190/2010, for each of the 11 Descriptors of the Marine Strategy, prepared by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security with the technical-scientific support of ISPRA, as well involving other central and local Administrations represented in the Technical Committee referred to in article 5 of Legislative Decree 190/2010.

102nd meeting of the Management Board of the European Environment Agency

The President of ISPRA, Vice-chair of the Management Board of the EEA, took part today in the 102nd meeting of the Management Board. During the meeting, in the context of the Agency's strategic orientation decisions and in particular in the context of the EEA-Eionet Strategy 2021-2030, he highlighted the need to implement coherent measures to reorganize the Agency's staff and which are reflected in the relevant economic-financial planning documents, in order to achieve the expected strategic objectives.

Green economy finance 2024

Finance and insurance in the green transition

What will be the priorities in light of the new balance in the European Parliament? What role will banks and insurance companies play? Representatives of EU and national institutions will meet with experts, trade organizations and operators from the financial and insurance sector in the two scheduled panels. The first dedicated to "Capital Market Union and Sustainable Finance Framework: a new push to finance the ecological and digital transitions", the second on how to "Cope with climate risks: the role of insurance".

The ISPRA DG Maria Siclari will participate in the session "Dealing with climate risks: the role of insurance".

Program

Second RASTEM workshop: a support tool for the design of hydrogeological risk mitigation interventions

RaStEM - Standardized Representation of Mitigation Effects - is a web gis tool developed by ISPRA with the aim of guiding designers to a clear representation of the significant elements of a hydrogeological risk mitigation intervention and supporting them in the drafting of projects consistent with the criteria established by the legislation in force (DPCM 09/27/2021) for their financing by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE).

XXII Summer Seminar of the Symbola Foundation

“We are the times” is the title of the 2024 edition of the Symbola Foundation summer seminar which will be held in Mantova from 27 to 29 June.

The seminar will give visibility to the many institutional, entrepreneurial and social entities that with their commitment demonstrate that it is possible to build better times by promoting a sustainable economy. A rich program of conferences, debates, events and book presentations which will see the participation of entrepreneurs, scientists, intellectuals and representatives of the economy, politics and society

The new frontiers for the geologist of the future

The workshop is organized by SIGEA-APS, in collaboration with the University of Basilicata and the Order of Geologists of Basilicata. At the end there will be a round table "What skills are necessary for the geologists of the future?"
Experts from different sectors from public research bodies, academic, professional and entrepreneurial fields will participate in the event.

I° Blue Economy Forum

Towards the development of the marine economy that safeguards biodiversity

As part of the European Life Sea.Net project, the first Legambiente Blue Economy Forum will be held in Rome on 13 June.

The Blue Economy fuels the green transition in Europe thanks to the development of industries and sectors linked to the oceans, seas and coasts. Sustainable fishing, renewable energy, but also aquaculture and tourism contribute to the objectives of the European Green Deal for an efficient and competitive economy that guarantees the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the protection of natural capital.

Second National RECONECT Workshop

Nature-based Solutions for meteorological-hydrological risk mitigation: Applications and prospects

The RECONECT project (09/2018 – 08/2024) contributes to improving the European reference framework of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for the reduction of meteorological-hydrological risk in natural and rural areas. The project is based on a network of pilot sites, EU and non-EU, which compete with the aim of innovating land management, pursuing objectives of both meteorological-hydrological risk reduction and local and regional development and protection of biodiversity.

Venice, ISPRA enlists new "guardians" for the lagoon

Nine new stations measuring sea level, waves and weather conditions have been installed for the monitoring and prediction of extreme events and high water in Venice

Monitor sea level, weather conditions and waves in the lagoons of Venice and Marano Grado to predict extreme events and support coastal risk management, with precise and accurate data, also in relation to the operation of the Mose system. It is with this objective that Ispra will strengthen its meteorological-marine monitoring system by expanding its tide gauge network in the Venice Lagoon and the Upper Adriatic as part of the MER (Marine Ecosystem Restoration) project financed by the PNRR.

The contract involves the installation, to be completed by June 2025, of 9 new stations for monitoring sea level and meteorological conditions in the lagoons of Venice and Marano Grado, thus strengthening the meteorological-marine observation system already present and providing additional essential data for monitoring and predicting extreme events.
Particular attention will be dedicated to the monitoring of waves in the lagoon environment - a parameter currently little paid attention to by existing observation systems - but essential for the analysis and modeling of the hydrodynamic and morphological conditions in lagoon environments, functional to the understanding of the ongoing dynamics and the design of environmental protection and restoration interventions.

Energy independence: new geopolitical scenarios and tools for businesses. The role of Italian industrial plant engineering

The National Association of Industrial Plant Engineering is organizing the 49th ANIMP National Conference on 20 and 21 June on the theme: "Energy independence: new geopolitical scenarios and tools for businesses. The role of Italian industrial plant engineering".

The objective of the Conference is to analyze the situation and positioning of the Italian plant engineering industry, starting from the geopolitical and market scenarios (20 June afternoon), outlined at the opening of the proceedings by ISPI, and the programmatic measures at an institutional/governmental level.

Survey on the promotion of marine sciences and our relationship with the sea

The European association EuroGOOS, which brings together 48 bodies that manage monitoring networks for the collection of data relating to the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of seas and oceans and of which ISPRA is also a member, has launched a survey to survey the various Ocean Literacy initiatives.

Study Day 30th Anniversary of the UNCCD Convention

June 17th is the Day against Desertification and Drought, "United for the Earth". Our legacy. Our Future” is the theme chosen for 2024 and highlights the future of land management: our most precious resource for ensuring the stability and prosperity of billions of people around the world.

June 17, 2024 also marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the only legally binding international treaty on land management and drought; one of the three Rio Conventions together with climate change and biodiversity.

Kick-off meeting of the Aces project

The kick-off meeting of the Aces project - Water, climate and health: from the environmental protection of resources, to access to water, to safe use, with the Abruzzo Region as leader, will be held on 12 June in Pescara.
The project is financed by the Ministry of Health as part of the National Complementary Plan (Pnc) to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Pnrr) and sees the participation as operational units of ISPRA, Arpae Emilia-Romagna, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Izs of Abruzzo and Molise, Ars Toscana

Sea Essence International Festival

Sea Essence International Festival, the international festival dedicated to the protection and valorization of the sea and its essence, will be held in Marciana Marina from 28 to 30 June.
This year's edition is dedicated to the theme of "Connections" in all its forms: cultural, environmental, economic and social.

Desertification and Drought Day 2024

Desertification, land degradation and drought are among the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, with more than 40% of all land surface in the world already considered degraded.

A healthy land not only provides us with nearly 95% of our food, but much more: it clothes and shelters us, provides us with jobs and livelihoods, and protects us from worsening droughts, floods, and fires. Yet, every second, an equivalent of four football fields of healthy soil is degraded, totaling 100 million hectares each year.

The Desertification and Drought Day  it is celebrated every year on June 17th, “United for the Earth. Our legacy. Our Future” is the theme chosen for 2024 and highlights the future of land management: our most precious resource for ensuring the stability and prosperity of billions of people around the world.

June 17, 2024 will also mark the 30th anniversary of the Bonn-based United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the only legally binding international treaty on land management and drought; one of the three Rio Conventions together with climate change and biodiversity.

Desertification and Drought Day has the following objectives:

• Promote public awareness of problems related to desertification, land degradation and drought
• Present human-driven solutions to prevent desertification and reverse drought intensification
• Strengthen the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

Dealing with complexity. From the conservation of large carnivores to the loss of biodiversity: exploring the tools for effective communication

Explore tools for effective communication

As part of the communication initiatives of the LIFE WolfAlps EU project, the project partners of the Lombardy Region and the Alpi Marittime protected areas are organizing an international workshop to be held in Milan on 12 June at Palazzo Lombardia, with the aim of improving our collective understanding and communication strategies related to large carnivores.

Evolution of policies for the protection of biodiversity and innovation in business strategies

In recent years, research has highlighted the role of biodiversity and the protection of natural capital in generating fundamental functions for the well-being of ecosystems and people. According to the World Economic Forum (2023) almost 50% of the global economy is threatened by the loss of biodiversity and 79% of threatened species are endangered due to the impacts generated by economic activity.

Landscapes and Geological Heritage, Cultural Heritage and Intangible Heritage

The Italian Society of Environmental Geology (SIGEA) – APS and the Regional Order of Geologists of Puglia in collaboration with the Municipality of Salve (LE) organizes the National Conference "Landscapes and Geological Heritage, Cultural Heritage and Intangible Heritage". The topics addressed will be: land management for the protection of geological heritage; geological heritage of natural and anthropic hypogea; geological landscapes and their evolution; landscapes and different artistic expressions; geological landscapes and food and wine routes.