The UK, Norway and Italy strategically align with AGREE’s objectives.

The UK leads in climate change action, supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). It set the first legally binding national commitment through the Climate Change Act of 2008, the ambitious target of achieving net-zero targets by 2050, and adopted the Third National Adaptation Programme outlining climate change actions from 2023 to 2028. Proactive international engagement, including hosting COP26, reflects its leadership.

Norway plays a global role in biodiversity, climate change, and culture initiatives like REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation and enhancing forest stocks) and the World Heritage Leadership programme. Ongoing Cultural Heritage Act revisions and governance decentralisation highlight the need for local empowerment for climate strategies.

Italy, with its rich cultural heritage, is dedicated to both heritage preservation and climate action. Initiatives include the Italian risk map project developed by the Ministry of Culture and flood and landslide hazard maps by the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research.

Kingston upon Hull (UK), Lillehammer (Norway), and the Po riverside in Moncalieri (Turin, Italy), represent diverse historic urban landscapes confronting flooding challenges in coastal, lake, and river settings. They provide unique insights into how local communities navigate flooding challenges within their cultural, geographical, and historical contexts, offering a comprehensive view of adaptive responses and innovative policies for environmental hazards and societal resilience in waterfront contexts.

Hull, UK City of Culture in 2017, is the UK’s second most vulnerable city to flooding, offering an exemplary case study for understanding historical responses to recurrent flooding across eras. Lillehammer, renowned for landscapes and historical significance, was tested during recent catastrophic events like Storm Hans, showcasing local governance capacity for climate adaptation and risk management. The Po riverside in Turin holds deep historical and cultural significance, marked by a legacy of wrestling with the Po River’s dual identity as both a crucial life source and a formidable threat, prominently underscored by the alternating challenges posed by the river flooding and periods of drought.

Read our blog posts for further information on why Hull and Lillehammer have been chosen as case studies.