One Water contributed to and participated in the “Third National Day on Hydrogeological Risk Prevention and Mitigation: Forecasting and experiences for effective governance of territorial protection policies”, held on Tuesday, 12 May 2026 in Rome at the Aquarium Conference Hall.
The event, organized by the National Council of Engineers and the National Council of Geologists, with the support of their respective Foundations and Fondazione Inarcassa, represented a key opportunity for dialogue among institutions, the scientific and technical community, and professionals engaged in the prevention and management of hydrogeological risk.
A fully attended venue and a highly qualified panel of speakers contributed to a dynamic debate, moderated by journalist Gianluca Semprini, thanks also to the commitment of Domenico Perrini, President of the National Council of Engineers, and Roberto Troncarelli, President of the National Council of Geologists, together with Andrea De Maio, President of Fondazione Inarcassa.
A wide range of institutional and technical figures took part in the discussions, including Matteo Salvini, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport; Eros Mannino, Head of the National Fire Brigade Corps; Paola Pagliara, Director of the Office for Risk Forecasting and Prevention at the Italian Civil Protection Department; Filippo Cappotto, Vice President of the National Council of Geologists; and Alessandro Trigila, Head of ISPRA’s National Landslide Inventory.
The discussions clearly highlighted Italy’s condition of structural vulnerability, with landslides and floods becoming increasingly frequent and severe, also due to the impacts of climate change in the Mediterranean region.
A central issue that emerged during the debate was the need to strengthen public policies for prevention and risk mitigation, which are still insufficient compared to the scale and complexity of the challenges. In particular, participants stressed the urgency of enhancing public awareness and, above all, establishing a more coordinated and centralized governance model, capable of overcoming the current fragmentation of institutional responsibilities and ensuring more effective planning and implementation of measures.
In his remarks, Erasmo D’Angelis, member of the One Water Steering Committee, highlighted the urgent need to strengthen prevention policies and improve the governance of hydrogeological risk.
This need was strongly emphasized by several institutional representatives, including Pino Bicchielli, President of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry on hydrogeological and seismic risks; Mauro Rotelli, Chair of the VIII Committee on Environment, Territory and Public Works of the Chamber of Deputies; representatives of the River Basin District Authorities; and Luigi Ferrara, Head of the Casa Italia Department.
The event also recalled the positive experience of the ItaliaSicura task force, previously active under the Prime Minister’s Office, as an effective model of coordination. In this context, there is ongoing discussion on the potential establishment of a “Civil Prevention” structure, designed to complement and strengthen the role of Civil Protection.
Through the presentation of case studies – ranging from the rock slope of the Sanctuary of La Verna and the La Beccia hamlet, to projects such as Milan “Sponge City” and the Baganza stream flood retention basin – the event highlighted the strong technical capacity of engineers and geologists to develop innovative solutions in a country characterized by significant territorial fragility.
The data confirm the scale of the issue: more than 620,000 landslides have been recorded in Italy, affecting 94.5% of municipalities, with around 6 million people living in high-risk areas, alongside tens of thousands of businesses and an extensive cultural heritage of inestimable value.
This vulnerability is largely due to the country’s geomorphological characteristics—two-thirds of its territory being mountainous or hilly—and to the effects of climate change, further exacerbated by urban development often carried out in high-risk areas without adequate safeguards.
In response, engineers and geologists called for long-term, structural investments, alongside stronger support for science and technical expertise, recognized as essential pillars for effective territorial protection.
The Euro-Mediterranean Water Forum – One Water will also address these strategic issues in the lead-up to Rome 2026, promoting an integrated and shared vision for water and territorial security across the Mediterranean region.
