News

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.

Top Legal Environment Forum

The third edition of the Top Legal Environment Forum will be held in Reggio Calabria on October 22nd. The conference will offer an opportunity to discuss environmental prevention strategies and tools, green crimes, and environmental restoration and regeneration processes.

Natural Risk Forum

The Natural Risk Forum (NRF), a new think tank promoted by the Unipol Group, was presented today in Rome. Its goal is to launch a platform for dialogue between institutions, the scientific community, and the private sector to stimulate broad and strategic reflection on the risks associated with natural disasters and their social, economic, and productive impact on the country.

Presentation UNRIMA 2025 report

The presentation of the UNIRIMA 2025 Report "Raw Material Production – End of Waste from Separate Paper and Cardboard Collection" will take place on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, starting at 9:30 a.m. in Rome.
The UNIRIMA report, now in its eighth edition, aims to provide an overview of the waste paper collection, recovery, recycling, and trade sector. It includes data, insights into the economic aspects, and an overview of international scenarios updated to September 2025. This is a historic sector of the Italian green industry, which contributes significantly to achieving our country's recycling targets.

SEAGHOSTS: The European project uncovering the secret lives of storm petrels is underway

From the Mediterranean Sea to the Northeast Atlantic, an international consortium including ISPRA will study the smallest and most elusive seabirds to protect them from new threats from the sea.

Understanding how animals move in nature and the environments they frequent is key to safeguarding biodiversity. This understanding is the basis for SEAGHOSTS "Winged ghosts wandering the oceans" a project funded by the European Commission that, between 2024 and 2027, will investigate the spatial and trophic ecology of storm petrels (Hydrobatidae and Oceanitidae families), the smallest and most elusive seabird species.

ISPRA publishes the Guidelines for the preparation of environmental impact studies relating to agrivoltaic and photovoltaic systems

The Guidelines represent a reference technical and methodological tool for the drafters of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and allow for well-structured EIAs, implying a faster evaluation phase: complete EIAs entail fewer requests for integration, fewer environmental conditions and, therefore, a speeding up of the environmental permitting processes.

Training CAMS NCP Italy

The training day promoted by the CAMS NCP Italia initiative, dedicated to monitoring air quality, the Copernicus programme and the use of CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) resources, will be held on 24 October.

Café Talk "Artificial intelligence, machine learning and remote sensing against Land degradation and desertification"

The second Café Talk organized by the MONALISA Knowledge Community will take place on October 30th. This event will address issues related to the use of technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, machine learning, and remote sensing data, to combat land degradation and desertification, to foster discussion on development prospects. Research by participants in the MONALISA Call for Young Researchers will also be presented during the event.

“Towards a Global Strategy for Environmental Data: Results from the 3rd UNSPBF Meeting in Frascati and UNEP Implementation Plan”

A few months after the third High-Level Expert Group Meeting on Big Data of the United Nations Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment (UNSPBF – Frascati, July 8–10), organized by ISPRA in collaboration with the European Space Agency, UNEP presented the second version of the Global Environmental Data Strategy (GEDS) and its implementation plan during the annual meeting of the UNEP Annual Subcommittee of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (ASC), held in Nairobi on September 2.