Overview
There is scientific evidence that climate change is likely to induce more frequent or intense weather extremes in the Alps with compound and cascading effects on the environment, humans and the economy. This may induce unexpected complex, long-lasting or even irreversible consequences. However, the knowledge and management of cascading impacts and risks under climate change are still insufficient. Therefore, X-RISK-CC aims to support risk managers and policy makers in addressing the compound risks of climate change extremes by developing new knowledge, local risk management actions and transnational guidelines. The project partners thus explicitly address the need for common knowledge, actions and solutions to manage extremes in the context of climate change.
Factsheet
- 2021 – 2027
- Climate resilient and green Alpine region
- SO 1.1 - Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention, resilience, taking into account eco-system based approaches
-
- AG8 Risk governance
- 11/2022
- 10/2025
- 2.982.073 EUR
- 2.017.377 EUR
Description
In recent years, the Alps have been affected by unprecedented weather extremes such as heatwaves, heavy rains and storms with severe impacts on the environment, humans and the economy. The Alpine territories involved in the project report that such events overstrained their risk management capacities. The unexpected magnitude and intensity of these extremes can in fact cause ‘compound’ impacts and domino effects (more than one impact happening simultaneously or subsequently) that turn into complex, long-lasting or even irreversible consequences.
While there is recent scientific evidence of climate change (CC) attribution to the increasing intensity and frequency of such events, knowledge and management of their cascading impacts and risks are still insufficient. On the regional level, such events are not considered in current Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) mechanisms. Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) plans, if they exist, often underestimate domino effects and compound risks related to extreme events and miss concrete solutions.
X-RISK-CC helps risk managers and policy makers across the AS to address the compound/cascading risks of CC-related extremes by developing local actions and transnational guidelines. They are based on newly generated and harmonized Alpine-wide data and knowledge on past and future extremes. The actions for upgrading current risk management instruments are designed with risk managers in five pilot areas in the AS (incl. cross-border areas). The project outputs are co-developed by and disseminated through EUSALP AG8 and PLANALP of the Alpine Convention (AlpConv). X-RISK-CC partnership includes regional risk managers, national authorities, members of EUSALP and PLANALP/ACB of AlpConv and scientists. It explicitly responds to the need for common knowledge, actions and solutions for managing extremes under CC that will be expressed in the EUSALP AG8 2023-24 work programme.
Partners
- Lead partner
- Italy
- Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano/Bozen (ITH1)
- Bolzano
- Alice Crespi
- alice.crespi@eurac.edu
- Italy
- Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano/Bozen (ITH1)
- Bolzano
- Willigis Gallmetzer
- willigis.gallmetzer@provinz.bz.it
- Italy
- Provincia Autonoma di Trento (ITH2)
- Trento
- Mauro Gaddo
- mauro.gaddo@provincia.tn.it
- Slovenia
- Zahodna Slovenija (SI04)
- Ljubljana
- Maja Žun
- maja.zun@gov.si
- Slovenia
- Zahodna Slovenija (SI04)
- Škofja Loka
- Anita Pokorn Oman
- anita@ra-sora.si
- France
- Rhône-Alpes (FRK2)
- Villeurbanne
- Patrick Biard
- patrick.biard@auvergnerhonealpes-ee.fr
- Austria
- Wien (AT13)
- Wien
- Klaus Haslinger
- klaus.haslinger@geosphere.at
- Austria
- Tirol (AT33)
- Innsbruck
- Leopold Stepanek
- leopold.stepanek@die-wildbach.at
- Germany
- Oberbayern (DE21)
- München
- Daniel Straub
- straub@tum.de
- Austria
- Wien (AT13)
- Wien
- Wolfgang Lexer
- wolfgang.lexer@umweltbundesamt.at
- 46.494530211.3472734
- 46.494571711.3185893
- 46.072192311.1212361
- 46.065384214.5129303
- 46.1639070514.306674164430577
- 45.77163274.8649712
- 48.24862595000000516.356562264678487
- 47.26565311.3974589
- 48.1509072511.568554408489021
- 48.2271985516.363632975256742
Outcomes
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Digital library on past and future weather extremes across the AS including the webGIS platform and the tailored studies for the pilots - How to exploit the new knowledge and data for practice
The digital library includes the webGIS platform, explanatory materials for its use (A 1.3), and a summary report on past and future trends in weather extremes across the AS (A 1.2), with additional details for the pilots (A 1.1). It is a unique easy-access point for the WP1-target-audience to uptake new Alpine-wide knowledge and contributes to the final O4.1. It includes data factsheets, guidelines for data interpretation and how-to tutorials to ease the uptake for impact/risk studies (WP2). -
X-RISK-CC manual: A conceptual approach designed for risk managers/practitioners to support them in assessing and coping with the newly emerging risks of weather extremes in their area
The manual bridges the gap between the newly created knowledge (WP1-2) and its straightforward exploitation by the WP3-target-audience to develop concrete risk management and adaptation options in a AS context (WP3). It guides them in understanding, assessing & coping with current and future compound impacts/risks in the pilot areas, using the information provided by the digital library (O1.1) and the risk pathways outlined in A 2.2. The manual is designed to be transferable across the AS. -
Pilot area dossiers
The dossiers will be completed for each pilot in English and local language to foster the dissemination and implementation of tailored pilot actions. The dossiers contain a description of the pilot situation and the outcomes of the pilot participatory processes. The dossiers are intended to disseminate the built pilot knowledge to the general public: from CC-related extremes to associated risks. -
Pilot action plans of tailored risk management measures to be developed in the pilot areas to cope with increasing weather extremes and their compound impacts/risks
The action plans concretize O2.1 in the 5 pilots & engage the pilot PPs & the WP3-target-audience to implement measures and developed actions. O3.2 also outlines further steps needed to manage risks of increasingly emerging weather extremes. The action plans contain background information, the current status of each pilot, reasoning and design criteria of developed measures as well as an overview of the next steps to ensure their long-term implementation. -
Two-tier digital sourcebook
The two-tier digital sourcebook synthetizes the WP4 outcomes & makes them available to policy makers and practitioners across the AS. It includes a synthesis section with transalpine risk-management gaps & corresponding priorities for coping with emerging extremes & compound risks (1st tier). The 2nd tier provides transferable guidelines for risk management practice & strategic policy options to integrate the new knowledge on weather extremes & compound risks into DRR/CCA across the AS.
Project calendar
