Green infrastructure and adaptation to climate change in European cities: an investigation on the municipality of Sassari, Sardinia (Italy)

This study is part of ongoing research that involves a cluster of European states and cities: the aim is to compare how key instruments regarding spatial and climate policy consider green areas (including green infrastructure, GI) to face the effects of climate changes. At local scale, we focus on Sassari, Italy, which is characterized by quite high flooding risk and hazard. Future climate scenarios point out that Sassari will be affected by an increase in average temperature, temperature extremes, and periods with high temperatures. Furthermore, Sassari is expected to deal with an increase in daily cumulative precipitation, daily precipitation intensity and frequency of extreme precipitation events. The method consisted of retrieving and examining local documents relevant to adaptation to climate changes (ACC) based on the use of GI (or green areas at least). According to the findings, the municipality approved three instruments regarding spatial and climate policy: a local Climate Change Adaptation Plan for Flooding Risk; a municipal master plan, which is compliant with the Regional Landscape Plan and the Regional Hydrogeological Plan; a Municipal Code for the Protection of Urban Green Areas. We found out that the three tools set objectives and actions related to the protection/formation of green spaces/green areas, which could be useful also in terms of ACC (e.g., promotion of policies for the protection, conservation and redevelopment of the coastal areas; protection, preservation, improvement and increase of the plant heritage of the municipality, by establishing rules to ensure the protection and rational management of green areas).