Ischia, Italy
Ischia is the largest island in the Gulf of Naples in southern Italy– a mountainous region with volcanic and high seismic activity. Climate change mostly affects Ischia Island through potentially life-threatening landslides after heavy rainfall.
Casamicciola Terme town in the north of the island is particularly susceptible to climate hazards, due to the geology of the location and the vulnerability of buildings to landslides. Ischia is becoming a more and more popular destination, creating further pressure on the islands' critical infrastructures, such as roads and railways. The interventions of the Med-IREN aim to bring multiple benefits such as human well-being, urban regeneration, biodiversity, and carbon absorption.
Nature-based Solutions
Restoration of the drainage basin
The drainage basin will be restored by removing large rocks and creating layers of avalanche which can prevent rock from falling. The basin will also be expanded and equipped with landslide mitigation structures, and the damaged riverbed will be reconstructed.
Slope stabilisation
To strengthen slope stability, nature-based techniques will be implemented, such as planting specific vegetation, creating vegetation barriers, or establishing terracing. Additional actions, including the use of natural fibres with reinforcement and monitoring, could be proposed accordingly.
Design of the new Casamicciola waterfront
The redesign of the Casamicciola waterfront will improve water flow and protect the port. The old drainage system near the caves will be replaced with a new one built underwater, designed to work with the natural currents. To further protect the area and clean up debris from past flooding, a special basin will be added to the port.
Med-IREN Benefits
Protection of the transport systems (road highways, port of Casamicciola)
Protection of the waste-water drainage network
Resilient telecommunications networks
Protection of local communities and economies (inhabitants, tourism sector)
Climate Resilience Policies
While Ischia does not yet have a dedicated local climate resilience strategy, it is governed by a multi-level policy framework that includes both regional and national instruments aimed at mitigating hydrogeological and climate-related risks. The Campania Region’s Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change and its Sustainable Development Strategy promote the integration of climate resilience into land-use planning, risk prevention, and environmental protection, with specific attention to fragile territories such as volcanic islands.
At the local level, the island’s municipalities rely on Civil Protection Plans for emergency management and are supported by the Southern Apennine River Basin District Authority, which provides hazard mapping and guidelines for the mitigation of landslides and flood risks.
A turning point in the governance of climate resilience in Ischia came after the devastating landslide of November 2022 in Casamicciola Terme, which caused significant damage and loss of life. In response, the Italian government established a Struttura Commissariale per la Ricostruzione (Extraordinary Reconstruction Commission), tasked with managing the post-disaster recovery process. Under its leadership, a Piano Straordinario per la Riduzione del Rischio (Extraordinary Plan for Risk Reduction) was developed.
This plan adopts an integrated approach to territorial safety, combining structural measures (such as slope stabilisation, hydraulic interventions, and safety works on road infrastructure) with non-structural actions, including land-use regulation, environmental restoration, and the potential use of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). It also aims to improve coordination among institutions, accelerate permitting procedures, and promote public awareness and stakeholder engagement.
The work of the Struttura Commissariale thus represents not only a response to the immediate emergency but also a strategic opportunity to embed climate adaptation and resilience objectives into the long-term development trajectory of Ischia.