Towards the Ecological Transition of the City of Brescia
In September 2024, the City of Brescia began the process of defining the Air and Climate Plan for its territory, i.e. the instrument that, as stated in the Council Resolution of 08/09/2023, contains “[…] all the policies that the administration promotes to deal with atmospheric pollution, in particular, with regard to energy, with respect to emissions connected to the energy consumption of buildings, mobility, and the management of the even limited zootechnical waste on the municipal territory […]”.
The PAC is indeed the key strategy to guide Brescia towards the ecological transition, transforming it into a “Climate Friendly City” by 2050 and achieving climate neutrality as early as 2040, thus anticipating by ten years the target set at European level. The Plan aims to contribute to the improvement of air quality, the reduction of emissions and the strengthening of the territory’s resilience to climate change, actively involving citizens and the main local stakeholders and actors.
This Plan is based on three pillars:
- AIR – Quality of life: Reduction of the concentration of the main pollutants including PM10, PM2.5, NO2 e O3, in compliance with the nomative limits in force in the European Union. For a City of People: Liveable streets, cleaner air and spaces designed for people to live in;
- Emissions – Mitigation: Achieving a 55% reduction in municipal CO2 emissions by 2030 and complete decarbonisation and climate neutrality by 2040, with a focus on energy efficiency and the adoption of renewable energies. For an Efficient City: reducing energy waste and favouring renewables for decarbonisation.
- Adaptation to Climate Change: Strengthening land resilience and protecting natural capital and biodiversity. For an Oasis City: a metropolis that breathes, welcomes and protects its territory and biodiversity.
The PAC is configured as an integrated tool and is the result of a process of awareness acquired from the Plans and Programmes approved by the Administration in recent years: Climate Transition Strategy “Un Fi.lo Naturale”, Urban Sustainable Mobility Plan and the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan. At the same time, in order to strengthen these policies and guide the ambitious goals the City has set for itself, planning processes are in progress to consolidate this territorial vision: Green and Biodiversity Plan and Urban Agenda 2050.
On 19 November 2024, the Council approved the Address Act of the Air and Climate Plan defining the strategic vision of the territory. During 2025, the Plan process will be defined, which envisages extensive involvement of citizens and stakeholders through an intensive participatory process.
THE ROLE OF TERRARIA
TerrAria was selected by the Municipality of Brescia for the drafting of the Air Climate Plan Report, collecting and summarising the contributions provided by the Bodies (including the University of Brescia and ARPA Lombardy), intervening as an expert at the technical tables and favouring the ongoing participatory process, on the basis of its consolidated experience on “Air” and “Climate” issues (for example, the assignment of the Regional Plan of Interventions for Air Quality of the Lombardy Region and the Technical Assistance for the Cariplo Foundation for Climate Transition Strategies). In addition, for the approval of the Air Climate Plan TerrAria will have to draw up the documentation for the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Plan.
