News

22nd Edition of Urbanpromo

As part of the 22nd edition of Urbanpromo – Projects for the Country, held in Florence from November 11 to 14, 2025, Michele Munafò, Head of the National Environmental Information System Service at ISPRA, will participate in two conferences: Toward the 2026 Territorial Report: Visions, Knowledge, and Interpretations in Urban Planning and Policies and Environment, Innovation, and Territorial Economy

Traveling in the Age of Climate Change: Between Ethics, Experience, and Sustainability

The conference is organized as part of BTO, Italy’s leading event dedicated to Digital Tourism, Innovation, and Education.

The climate crisis demands a profound transformation in the way we travel. On an increasingly fragile planet, tourism must be reimagined not only as an economic sector but also as an ethical and cultural practice capable of fostering awareness and regeneration.

This is a pivotal moment for a form of tourism that aspires to be sustainable, responsible, and authentic, questioning how travel experiences can contribute to a new balance between human beings, local territories, and a changing climate.

Toward the 2025 National Tree Day

On the occasion of National Tree Day, which will be held on November 21, 2025, the University of Salerno is organizing an event titled "Toward the 2025 National Tree Day", scheduled for Thursday, November 13.

The initiative, promoted in collaboration with the Committee for the Development of Public Green Spaces (CSVP) of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, aims not only to promote the care of trees—recognizing the essential role of forests and urban greenery in the ecosystem—but also, in particular, to foster dialogue with local communities on future prospects, as well as on the experiences gained by the Regions in the census and enhancement of monumental trees.

ISPRA Venice participates in the "WORKERS IN THE SADDLE" Living Lab

A constructive discussion to promote cycling and sustainable mobility
ISPRA participated in the "LAVORATORI IN SELLA" Living Lab, organized by the City of Venice as part of the European LAMO project (Local Authorities on the path to sustainable Urban Mobility in the Adriatic/Ionian region), dedicated to the topic of cycling.
The meeting, which involved strategic stakeholders from the local socio-cultural and economic landscape—companies, public administrations, associations, and citizens—aimed at stimulating collective reflection and gathering concrete proposals to encourage cycling among workers, leveraging the contribution of local companies as catalysts for positive change.

Insurance Summit 2025

Now in its 27th year, the Insurance Summit is the go-to event for insurance industry players.
Catastrophic events due to climate change and their impact on regional economic and financial supply chains, new services and models offered by the insurance industry due to the ongoing digital transition, and many other topics will be analyzed at the Summit. The event will be an opportunity to take stock of the future challenges companies will face.

Keel laying and coin ceremony mark the start of construction for Arcadia, ISPRA’s largest oceanographic vessel.

The keel of the new oceanographic vessel Arcadia, destined for the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), was laid today at the Piombino Industrie Marittime (PIM) shipyard. With this symbolic gesture—accompanied by the traditional coin-laying ceremony—the construction of the vessel has officially begun. The build has been entrusted to the T. Mariotti shipyard, part of the Genova Industrie Navali Group.

The coin-laying ceremony, an ancient maritime tradition, involves placing a few coins beneath the ship’s keel as a good-luck charm, wishing safe voyages and protection for the crew and all who will work on board. It is a simple yet deeply meaningful act that has accompanied the birth of new vessels for centuries—and in this case, of a ship dedicated to studying the very sea that will support it.

Approximately 70 meters long and equipped with state-of-the-art technology, Arcadia will serve as a next-generation scientific platform for the study and protection of the marine environment. Thanks to autonomous underwater vehicles (ROVs) capable of operating at depths of up to 4,000 meters, modular laboratories, and dedicated spaces for researchers, the ship will enable monitoring, mapping, and research missions on marine and coastal ecosystems, contributing to the understanding of deep-sea habitats and the protection of biodiversity.

The project is part of the PNRR MER – Mission 2 “Green Revolution and Ecological Transition,” Italy’s most comprehensive national program for marine conservation and the strengthening of environmental research. For ISPRA, this represents both a strategic investment and a responsibility: to place science and knowledge at the service of the country, enhancing the ability to observe, understand, and protect the Mediterranean in the context of climate change and ecological transition.

The keel-laying ceremony for Arcadia was attended by ISPRA’s Director General, Maria Siclari.

Photo gallery

Research and the Local Community Come Together in Livorno

ISPRA and SNPA President Stefano Laporta and ISPRA Director General Maria Siclari met with the Mayor of Livorno, Luca Salvetti, at the Institute’s Livorno headquarters.
During the meeting, they presented the various technical and scientific activities carried out there by more than thirty specialists, focusing on environmental protection—particularly in marine and coastal environments—with the goal of strengthening collaboration with the Tuscan municipality.

Among the activities presented were those related to the assessment of contamination risks from both traditional and emerging pollutants, laboratory work dedicated to ecotoxicology and the treatment of marine sediments—conducted in cooperation with ports or port authorities—as monitoring is primarily carried out within port areas (for dredging) and coastal zones (industrial discharges).
To perform these monitoring activities, the Livorno facility uses remote data acquisition tools (such as aerial drones), as well as statistical analysis instruments and GIS software for the processing and presentation of environmental data.

Nature-based solutions for resilient and carbon neutral cities

Bocconi University’s Sustainable Urban Regeneration Lab (SUR Lab), in collaboration with MUSA – Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action (Spoke 1), will participate in four high-level events at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, contributing to global discussions on climate finance, urban resilience, nature-based solutions, and people-centered natural resource governance.

Francesca Giordano of ISPRA will participate at the event "Nature-based solutions for resilient and carbon neutral cities"

From risk to action: knowing, planning, acting to build heat-resilient territories

The day's underlying theme will be heat risk and heatwaves: a focus on policies, strategies, and actions to effectively integrate welfare, public health, economic systems, and land-use planning, with the goal of building resilient regions and communities in increasingly hotter urban environments. The event stems from discussions developed in recent months with Fondazione Lombardia per l'Ambiente and Ambiente Italia, thanks to funding from the MASE Experimental Program for Adaptation to Climate Change in Urban Areas. It will be an opportunity to share emerging evidence, discuss governance models for adaptation, and initiate a cross-sector dialogue on impacts and operational priorities.

COP30

The Conference of the Parties (COP), the largest global event for discussions and negotiations on climate change, will be held in Belém, Brazil, from November 10 to 21.
COP30 marks the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Paris Agreement, and it will be the first time a COP takes place in the Amazon — one of the planet’s most important ecosystems.

National Tree Day

National Tree Day, established by the Ministry of the Environment and recognized by Article 1 of Law No. 10 of January 14, 2013, is celebrated every November 21st throughout Italy. Its aim is to promote the care and appreciation of trees and to remember the essential role of forests and urban greenery in our ecosystem.
Every tree supports life on the planet, providing shelter, food, water, wood, fiber, medicine, gum, and resin.

Implementing the Nature Restoration Regulation: Legal Challenges and Opportunities

The conference will bring together experts at national and European levels to analyze the new Nature Restoration Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 and the ambitious and comprehensive habitat and ecosystem restoration obligations it introduces. The program includes roundtable discussions on public participation, agricultural biodiversity, restoration financing, and synergies with other areas of EU environmental policy, such as climate change.

World Tsunami Awareness Day

Promoting a culture of information and prevention as a key focus for tsunami risk mitigation. This is the goal of World Tsunami Awareness Day (WTAD), an annual event established by the United Nations in 2015, which highlights the importance of the topic every November 5th.

On this occasion, the National Tsunami Warning System (SiAM), consisting of the Department of Civil Protection (DPC), the Tsunami Warning Center of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (CAT-INGV), and the National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), renews its commitment to mitigating tsunami risk along the Italian coast and contributing to the safety of coastal communities in the Euro-Mediterranean Area (NEAM).

National Conference on Chemical Products: CLP, REACH, Biocides and Pesticides – ISPRA present at the event

From October 29 to 31, 2025, the National Conference on Chemical Products, organized by the Ministry of Health, took place in Rome at the Biagio D'Alba Auditorium of the Ministry of Health.
The initiative provided an opportunity for institutions, competent authorities, businesses, and the scientific community to discuss regulatory developments and the prospects for revising the main European regulations: CLP, REACH, Biocides, and Plant Protection Products.

The role of the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano in the study and conservation of animal diversity

The event aims to create an opportunity for numerous researchers who, both in the past and in recent years, have carried out wildlife research on the Estate to meet and discuss the current state of knowledge. This will foster potential collaborations and future projects for wildlife conservation and the enhancement of the Estate.

ISPRA participates in the Life PolliNetWork project

The project's goal is to create a network of ecological corridors, transforming roads, railways, and industrial areas into "Buzz Lines," veritable green highways where bees and butterflies can safely feed and reproduce. By 2030, 88 hectares of natural habitats will be restored in 11 Italian regions, from Sardinia to Piedmont. The project also includes scientific monitoring, educational activities, and citizen science sessions to engage residents, schools, and farmers. The goal is to increase the number of pollinator species by up to 30% over the next five years. Italy, home to one of Europe's richest pollinator communities, thus aims to become a European model of conservation, contributing to the National Biodiversity Strategy and the new European Regulation on nature restoration.

When the Earth Reveals History: Cavities and Sinkholes in the Appian Way Park

The initiative, organized by the Appia Antica Regional Park Authority in collaboration with ISPRA and the Order of Geologists of Lazio, aims to present the initial results of the ISPRA–Appia Antica Regional Park Agreement, dedicated to the study and monitoring of underground cavities and sinkhole phenomena within the Park.

GEO-7 SPM Review and Approval Meeting

From October 27 to 31, 2025, the international meeting for the review and approval of the Summary for Policymakers (SPM) of the seventh edition of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7), the main environmental assessment report of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), will be held at United Nations Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

The meeting will be attended by government representatives, UNEP-accredited observers, and the group of experts and scientists who contributed to the report.

The conservation challenge to reverse biodiversity loss: the role of protected areas and natural resource management

Biodiversity is facing an unprecedented crisis, threatening ecosystems and our very survival, and action is urgent. Protected areas are an essential bulwark for reversing the decline of species, but they are not enough. Conservation efforts must be intensified, integrating protection, restoration, and sustainable management. There is no more time to waste: the future of nature depends on the choices we make today, and each of us can contribute to securing the planet.

A training course dedicated to Vegetated Land Cover Characteristics products is coming soon.

The Italian National Focal Point for the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS) is launching an exclusive training course on Vegetated Land Cover Characteristics (VLCC) products.

The training course, organized by ISPRA, is part of the National Collaboration Programme and will be led by experts from the European Environmental Agency with the support of the European Commission.

The initiative stems from the needs expressed by users during the consultation following the workshop on March 5, 2025, with the aim of deepening the use of high-resolution products for monitoring forests, meadows, pastures, and crops.

The training will be held online on November 19, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

European Directive on Soil Monitoring and Resilience Approved

After a long and arduous preparatory process, the European Parliament today approved the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive. The Directive begins building a common framework for monitoring soil health in Europe, with the aim of improving soil resilience through sustainable soil management, combating land take, and managing contaminated sites.

The Geological Map of Italy at a scale of 1,50,000: Sheet No. 493 Taranto

The event, organized by ASSET in collaboration with ISPRA and the Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences of the University of Bari, will showcase the results of a project of national interest and promote geological knowledge as an essential tool for informed territorial planning, supporting responsible, resilient, and low-impact interventions.

Another year of commitment for Bonelli's Eagle: the first year of the Life Abilas project.

The first year of the Life Abilas project concluded in October 2025. Its goal is to reestablish a stable population of Bonelli's eagles (Aquila fasciata) in Sardinia, where they had become extinct in the 1990s. Thanks to the joint efforts of ISPRA, Forestas, e-distribuzione, the Sardinia Region Environment Department, and GREFA, with the support of the CFVA and the SoS Abbjlarios association, the release of Bonelli's eagles, begun in 2018 as part of another Life Aquila a-Life project, has continued. At the same time, other concrete conservation activities have been launched, such as wild rabbit breeding to support local wild populations, the census of water bodies that pose a threat to the Bonelli's eagle and other species, the identification of power lines to be secured in key areas for the species, and much more.

Critical Raw Materials and Projects of National Strategic Interest: Innovations Needed for Sustainability and Development from Mineral Extraction to Processing

The event will provide a high-level discussion on the state of the mining sector in light of the new EU Regulation 2024/1252 and Decree-Law 84/2024, which establish the updated procedures for mining projects of national strategic interest.

Experts from academia, industry, and public institutions will discuss European mining autonomy, the valorization of national resources, environmental sustainability, social acceptability, and industrial circularity through the recovery of mining waste.

EXPERIENCE DAYS in Palermo with ISPRA

Climate Change and its Scientific Evidence: Understanding and Taking Action!

EXPERIENCE DAYS – Interconnections between Climate, Health and Environment, organized as part of the PNC project “Climate and Co-benefits for Health and Equity”, in collaboration with ISPRA, DEP Lazio, CNR-IFT, and UNIPA.

These training days are designed as a space for discussion and hands-on learning, where participants can explore data, discover multidisciplinary tools for analysis and planning, and propose solutions, together with experts from various institutions available to engage with students.

Environmental and territorial strategies for building the future

The conference is promoted by the Institute for Construction Technologies (ITC) of the CNR, in collaboration with RemTech Expo (Ferrara Expo), which provides the intellectual framework for the encounter between science and governance.
The event is an opportunity to raise awareness of the potential and limitations of environmental sciences in territorial governance; to foster networks between the scientific community, local authorities, and policymakers; and to foster a culture of informed decision-making, capable of combining sustainability, effectiveness, and territorial justice.

Land reclamation and land conservation: the role of public bodies and private operators

In line with its objectives and continuing its study of remediation for the remediation and recovery of degraded areas and contaminated sites, CeRAR pays particular attention to analyzing how remediation relates, in technical and regulatory terms, to the issues of land consumption containment and urban regeneration. This conference is dedicated to this analysis, also considering the priority role these two issues are recognized for, within the context of the ecological transition, both at the European and national levels. The presentations and roundtable discussions aim to provide useful answers and concrete recommendations, also in light of the data and results of experiences carried out in various territorial contexts, highlighting the essential role of public bodies and private operators.

Third meeting of the BioPlast4SAFE project

The third meeting of the BioPlast4SAFE project, "Biomonitoring of biodegradable micro- and nanoplastics: from the environment to humans in a one-health perspective," was held on October 15th in Naples.
BioPlast4SAFE promotes the study of the characteristics, fate, and potential toxicological and ecotoxicological effects of plastics, with a specific focus on biodegradable polymers as a potential strategy for mitigating plastic pollution. The overall objective is to improve the quality, scope, and efficiency of risk assessments for human health and the environment related to products derived from the plastics industry, with the potential for environmental and health impact assessments.

Towards a European framework for soil quality and remediation

Soil health is defined as "the physical, chemical, and biological condition of soil that determines its ability to function as a viable living system and provide ecosystem services."

Currently, over 60% of European soils are not in good condition, showing a progressive deterioration that leads to economic losses estimated at approximately €50 billion per year.

This situation has made the adoption of common policies and effective tools for soil protection urgent. In this regard, on September 29, the European Council adopted the new Soil Monitoring Directive (now awaiting approval by the European Parliament) with the goal of ensuring healthy soils by 2050. Member States will have three years from the entry into force of the directive to implement it into their respective legislation and establish a monitoring system compliant with a shared European methodology.

During the meeting, the main innovations introduced by the directive will be presented and its concrete effects on public policies and activities related to soil management will be analyzed.

ADI Design Index 2025: ISPRA's IdroGeo national platform selected

The IdroGEO National Platform has been selected for the ADI Design Index 2025 in the Service Design category. The selection, made by the Permanent Design Observatory of ADI (Association for Industrial Design), aims to convey the complexity and richness of contemporary Italian design, intertwining languages, materials, and design visions.
The presentation of the selected projects was held on October 15, 2025, at the ADI Design Museum Compasso d'Oro in Milan.