From Knowledge to Action: Knowledge, Beliefs, and Cooperation for DRR and Climate Change Adaptation

Thematic session

• Andrea Pirni, University of Genova

Interdisciplinary knowledge production

The talk intends to problematize and, in doing so, to encourage an initial approach to the relationship between the Mathematical-Natural Physical Sciences and the social sciences for the purposes of Disaster Risk Management. An attempt will be made to consider how to integreate phenomena, information and data that come from the social sciences with the modeling and scenarios that define the MNF sciences. Finally, we will also discuss the development of a common minimum scientific language.

• Francesca Vigotti, Politecnico di Milano

Assessing and empowering fragile communities

In this contribution I will discuss the outcomes of Task 7.4.4, titled “A New Approach to Integrated Planning Based on Co-Design Processes for DRR and CCA Policies.” The main objective of this activity was to develop antifragility strategies for fragile territories by integrating routine and emergency planning through participatory approaches. We focused on territories characterized by multi-risk scenarios, demographic decline, and remoteness from essential services. Our research was grounded in three key pillars: Prevention and Resilience, Regeneration, and Education and Participation. The work was carried out in 12 municipalities in Lomellina, Lombardy, where we conducted a thorough assessment of strategic spaces. The results include tools—such as survey forms, mapping instruments, and educational materials—to enhance the understanding and management of built environments, heritage, and open spaces.

• Claudio Marciano, University of Genoa

Heat wave and floods in Genoa: a Risk Storyline

Risk Storylines are scenario techniques that foresee the impact chains of multi-hazard events and the most relevant actions to mitigate, respond to and learn from such events. An interdisciplinary research team, engaged in the extended Return partnership, has built a model for the elaboration of storylines and applied it in several urban contexts, including that of Genoa. The paper describes the model, and the main results obtained in the context of a storyline on a heat wave followed by heavy rainfall in the context of the Ligurian capital.

Thematic Session

• Pavel Janda, University of Milan

Collective choices and collective beliefs

Collective choices depend on collective beliefs. How we form collective beliefs from individual beliefs to a high degree determines collective beliefs and, thus, decisions. My interest lies in formation methods that are resilient to manipulations and embody important values by satisfying desirable properties. For example, the method should not be dictatorial. Or, our method should be resilient to the strategic proliferation of information. So, one cannot strategically disclose relevant information before or after forming the collective belief to manipulate it. I will explore various ways to manipulate the formation of collective beliefs and how to make the methods more resilient. For example, I will explore whether and under what assumptions we can escape Arrow’s impossibility result reinterpreted for belief aggregation.

• Riccardo Stupazzini, LABSUS

Shared risk management

This presentation critically explores the concept of shared administration as an innovative governance approach to disaster risk management, emphasizing active civic engagement. Through an analysis of the case study of Bagnara Calabra—where local authorities and citizens collaboratively established a civil protection agreement—the discussion illustrates how participatory frameworks enable communities and local governments to jointly identify vulnerabilities, implement targeted preventive measures, and build lasting resilience. Particularly in contexts where institutional resources are limited and vulnerability to extreme events is high, shared administration serves not merely as a supplemental strategy but as a fundamental mechanism for community empowerment, ensuring risk mitigation strategies are collectively devised, endorsed, and implemented.