IN SHORT
The CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENT, AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES (CASE) Value Chain promotes the transition of the regional economy towards greater environmental sustainability through the promotion of climate change mitigation and adaptation actions, the improvement of the management of degraded and/or vulnerable ecosystems, and environmental control in all its sectors—air, water, soil—through a circular approach. It also aims to encourage the development of an education system, at various levels and grades, for personnel with the skills required by companies – where these do not already exist – and for the continuous training of existing personnel.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
1. Reduction of anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems and health
Activities in this area include environmental prevention and control and remediation/mitigation technologies. In particular, the aim is to promote:
The development of hardware and software technologies and analysis methods for environmental prevention and control in all its sectors (air, water, soil, living organisms), as well as wastewater and waste.
Development of solutions for the remediation and management of degraded and/or vulnerable ecosystems, to ensure air quality and well-being in indoor environments, the reduction of anthropogenic emissions, and the development of information systems for sustainable land management.
2. Climate change mitigation and adaptation
Climate change represents the most significant challenge in the immediate future. In addition to the increase in extreme weather events, the relationship between climate and infrastructure and climate and services is particularly important. Climate risk prevention requires the development of models and technologies based on knowledge of ecosystems and economic models that enable the prediction and prevention of the risks and impacts of climate change on human activities and human health.
3. Conservation of ecosystems, biodiversity, and ecosystem services
Ecosystems are capable of absorbing CO2, purifying water and air, protecting the territory from hydrogeological instability, providing raw materials, and much more—services on which many of the main industrial sectors in Emilia-Romagna depend. Research can create new opportunities for businesses, both in designing actions that enhance ecosystem services and in promoting actions that involve local actors in the conservation and enhancement of habitats and biodiversity with a view to the bioeconomy, as well as in the creation of standards for the various production chains.
4. More circular production models, preservation of natural resources and raw materials
It is necessary to promote more competitive circular production models and a more secure and sustainable supply of resources by developing new, more virtuous production processes that limit the use of raw and secondary materials and integrate them with recycled materials in order to preserve finite resources. In this transition, it will be necessary to support public administrations in updating the regulatory framework to encourage the implementation of new virtuous technologies in production processes, increasing the percentage of renewable or recyclable resources.
