Centre

About
Located in the iconic city of Venice, CSRCC is dedicated to addressing the challenges of climate change through cutting-edge research, international collaboration, and innovative solutions for coastal and urban resilience.

Mission
Our mission is to advance the understanding of climate change impacts and develop strategies for mitigation, adaptation, and resilience, leveraging Venice as a global hub for knowledge sharing and innovation.

Story

Our story
Established under Italian legislation in 2019, CSRCC began its activities in 2024. We are therefore a young and dynamic centre, determined to become an international reference point for inter- and transdisciplinary research on climate change, as well as a hub for knowledge transfer at the science-policy interface, in Venice and beyond.

Venice: a natural laboratory for climate innovation
The climate emergency manifests itself and is experienced in Venice with accelerated and exacerbated dynamics. Venice has a scale of problems, an urgency, and a magnitude of resources at risk that have always placed it at the center of international interest. Venice is recognized as “the city of water” worldwide. This profound connection with water constitutes the essence of the city, and has been, for centuries, one of the reasons – if not the main reason – for the city';s greatness. However, in light of current extreme events and the expected effects of climate change, particularly the increase in relative sea level, Venice’s connection with water also represents a significant element of fragility and vulnerability. The high vulnerability of the Venetian territory is not limited to the historic city alone but concerns the entire lagoon, the sandbars that separate it from the sea, and the inland areas that belong to its drainage basin, which together form a unique system. Over the centuries, Venice has demonstrated a remarkable resilience, by progressively adapting to variations in the surrounding environmental context through a continuous process of co-evolution between the natural system (the Venice lagoon) and the socio-economic system (the lagoon urban centers and the economic activities developed over time). This resilience will be the key for the adaptation to the challenges posed by climate change. Venice’s unique vulnerability and historical resilience are thus the foundation for CSRCC’s strategic location in Venice. A location that is meant to leverage Venice’s potential as natural laboratory for developing and testing climate solutions relevant to coastal and urban environments worldwide.

The CSRCC’s headquarters are housed in Palazzo Franchetti, a historic landmark situated in Venice’s city center, in close proximity to the Accademia Bridge.

Organizational structure

President legal representative of the CSRCC, coordinates all the activities of the Centre. Current president: Prof. Carlo Barbante.

Vice-president replaces the President in case of impediment or absence and may also receive specific delegations. Current vice-president: Prof. Francesco Musco.

Board of Members (“Assemblea dei Soci”) is composed of one representative for each member and deliberates on the management of the Association. Current members: Prof. Tiziana Lippiello (UNIVE), Prof. Benno Albrecht (IUAV), Prof. Nicola Casagli (OGS), Prof. Andrea Lenzi (CNR), Prof. Antonio Navarra (CMCC), Prof. Francesco Musco (CoRiLa), Eng. Dario Berti (Thetis), Dr. Umberto Vattani (VIU).

Board of Directors (“Consiglio di Amministrazione”) deliberates on all matters of significant interest concerning the administration and management of the Association. Current members: Prof. Carlo Barbante (UNIVE), Prof. Francesco Musco (IUAV), Dr. Paola Del Negro (OGS), Dr. Mauro Sclavo (CNR), Prof. Antonio Marcomini (CMCC), Eng. Pierpaolo Campostrini (CoRiLa), Dr. Manuela Manfredi (Thetis), Prof. Carmelo Marabello (VIU).

Scientific and Technical Committee (“Comitato Tecnico-Scientifico”) the scientific and technical advisory body of the Association. It is composed of seven members appointed by the Board of Directors, selected from scientific figures external to the Board and not affiliated (employees) of the associates, internationally recognized as experts in the field. Current Members: Prof. Filippo Giorgi, Prof. Igor Linkov, Prof. Piero Lionello, Prof. Marco Marani, Prof. Franco Montalto, Dr. Barbara Neumann, Prof. Maraja Riechers.

Board of Auditors (“Collegio dei Revisori dei Conti”) reviews the administrative and accounting management of the Association. Current members: Dr. Andrea Burlini (President), Dr. Brunella Campanini, Dr. Teddi Cavinato.

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