Francesco Bassetti, Author at Foresight

Local knowledge for a global climate issue: Taking loss and damage from global negotiations to national realities

Over the last decade, much of the political action and attention on loss and damage governance has played out in the realm of international climate change negotiations. However, while negotiators debate definitions and funding mechanisms in conference halls, the reality on the ground is that nation states are the “first responders” when it comes to climate impacts and that considerations on loss and damage require a “national turn”.

Putting out the blaze: Wildfire risk management begins well before fire season

As of July 2025, almost 300,000 hectares of forest – an area larger than Luxembourg – has gone up in flames in Europe. What is more, the number of wildfire events could increase by 50% globally by the end of the century due to a combination of changes in climate and land use and management. These threats will tend to concentrate in hotspots such as the Mediterranean, where over 80% of European wildfires occur and which experienced upwards of 2.5 billion euros in wildfire related damages in 2022 alone.

The hidden costs of air conditioning in a warming world

Cooling poverty is a growing challenge at the intersection of climate change, social equity, and energy access. As global temperatures continue to rise and extreme heat events become a common feature of everyday life, a new form of energy poverty is emerging – one that affects millions of people worldwide who cannot afford to stay cool during the hottest moments of the summer months.

From research to climate solutions: Lessons from the Sahel drought

What are the causes of drought in the American dust belt or the Sahelian savanna? Are local practices to blame or should we be looking at broader climatic factors? Through an exploration of the causes and consequences of the Sahelian drought of the late 20th-century, Professor Alessandra Giannini explores the interplay between local and global factors and how attribution studies can have profound implications for adaptation efforts in the Sahel and beyond.

From risk to resilience

Resilience has shifted from being a matter of choice to an imperative. From climate disasters to failing infrastructure, the ability to withstand and recover from shocks is now at the heart of decision-making. Yet, despite its critical importance, there is still no universal definition for resilience and its relationship with risk. Dr Igor Linkov, a distinguished expert in risk prevention and management, walks us through methods for resilience quantification and how these can help transform fragmented approaches to risk management into coordinated strategies.

Rising seas, rising challenges: Informing the future directions of coastal resilience

Sea-level rise will continue to threaten ecosystems and communities in the coming decades. However, the extent and magnitude of this threat is still an open question that researchers are intent on investigating in an effort to provide decision-makers with accurate and timely information. Giulia Galluccio, CMCC director of ATEC, vice-chair of JPI Climate and co-lead author of two chapters of the 1st European Assessment Report on Sea Level Rise, and CMCC researcher Elisa Fiorini Beckhauser walk us through the report, its significance and implications.

COP16 in Rome: Bridging the biodiversity finance gap

The COP16 on Biological Diversity reconvened at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations in Rome between 25 and 27 February, providing a critical juncture for global biodiversity conservation and the role of science in informing international negotiations. “Until we establish governance that treats climate and biodiversity as two sides of the same crisis, we will continue to fail in finding effective solutions,” says CMCC researcher Cristina Cipriano, who participated in the proceedings as coordinator of the European Regional Chapter and the Italian National Chapter of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network.

How climate change is reshaping the insurance landscape

The rising threats posed by extreme weather and climate events are challenging the way insurers approach at-risk areas. From wildfires in California, USA, to flooding in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, coordinated efforts are needed to create innovative insurance solutions. “The future of insurance will depend on solutions that do more than just compensate for damage – they must actively help reduce exposure to risk,” says CMCC researcher Guido Rianna.

UN Pact for the Future: The new global roadmap to sustainability

The United Nations recently adopted the UN Pact For The Future, its latest framework aimed at addressing global challenges and accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reforming international financial systems to better serve developing nations, tackling climate change, and governing emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. We take a closer look at what this means for climate science.

COP29 Spotlight | Agriculture, forestry, and other land use

At COP29 the critical role of agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) as both a catalyst and a provider of potential solutions to rising emissions is of significant importance. “COP29 must lay the groundwork for COP30 by prioritizing sustainable land-use strategies and ensuring stronger commitments to reducing emissions from land use,” says CMCC researcher and member of the Italian delegation to COP29 Matteo Bellotta.

COP29 Spotlight | Land-based carbon removal and the climate crisis

Removing carbon from the atmosphere will play a crucial role in the ability of countries to reach their climate goals. “Alongside the role of carbon capture technologies, enhancing the carbon sink potential land sector is the solution to offsetting residual un-abatable emissions and therefore achieving net-zero targets,” says Maria Vincenza Chiriacò, CMCC researcher and member of the Italian delegation to COP29 – where Parties to the Paris Agreement are working towards establishing clear and rigorous rules for a UN backed-global carbon market.

Halting biodiversity loss: More than just an environmental imperative

Climate change and biodiversity loss are intertwined crises with common causes and effects. Research, science-based tools, and collaboration are taking center stage as national and international efforts to understand, monitor and promote biodiversity ramp up. From the ongoing COP16 on Biological Diversity to the National Biodiversity Future Centre, Italy’s first National Research and Innovation Center dedicated to biodiversity, getting accurate knowledge and data to decision makers and stakeholders is key.

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Francesco Bassetti

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