The Legacy of Experience: Reflections on Climate Transition Strategies in Medium-Sized Italian Cities

Abstract

This study examines Climate Transition Strategies in medium-sized Italian cities (Bergamo, Brescia, Mantua), funded by Fondazione Cariplo. It investigates how urban nature is conceptualized and integrated, and the impact of these strategies on urban planning instruments. Despite varying visions – from human-centered ‘oasis cities’ to technical performance and integrated eco-climatic planning – direct actions across the CTS converge on (re)naturalization, (re)forestation, depaving, maintenance, and extension in urban spaces. A key finding is the significant influence of CTS on urban governance, integrating climate objectives into planning instruments. Competitive funding catalyses these experimental approaches in resource-constrained cities. The research highlights a shift towards integrating urban nature but notes challenges like fragmented actions and the need to assess long-term socio-ecological effectiveness and equitable benefit distribution.