The project delivers a multi-purpose solution that includes complimentary measurable outputs dealing with several other EU policies, like those related to biodiversity conservation, flood risk assessment and mitigation, energy efficiency measures, and, under an innovative perspective for LIFE funding, harmonization with cultural heritage preservation (a constraint that has been highlighted by the European Environmental Agency as critical for implementing climate adaptation in many of EU historical cities).
Being a result from a participated and multidisciplinary approach, the project seeks to deliver a multi-purpose universe of solutions that
improve integration of its specific environmental and/or climate objectives with those of other EU relevant policy areas. Among others, , we highlight:
- integration/harmonization of cultural heritage preservation needs with those of climate adaptation;
- use of ecosystem-based approaches (including nature based solutions and increased use of native species) for shadowing, mitigation of surface water erosion and improvement of water retention (to adapt to heat waves and extreme precipitation),allowing to tackle, simultaneously, targets of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 and the EU Floods Directive (Directive 2007/60/EC);
- adoption and promoting use of water-efficient irrigation methods, which are in line with the existing Watershed Management Plan (resulting from the EU Water Framework Directive);
- adoption and promoting energy reduction measures, as well as the use of renewable energy sources, which are in line with the “Framework strategy for a resilient Energy Union with a forward-looking climate change policy” and its annex and the Commission Communication in 2011 "A Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050".
In all, as outlined under the project’s LIFE Performance indicators, this allows the project outputs to be wide, diverse, and contribute with a synergic view to a set of EU policies, in addition to its direct adaptation outputs, that are in line with the Commission Communication "An EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change".