MEASURES FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION IN MEDITERRANEAN CITIES: THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MEDCLIMA PROJECT BY MUNICIPALITY OF PALERMO

摘要

The municipality of Palermo is involved in a Community Project called MEDCLIMA that is the acronym of "Climate Alliance for Mediterranean Cities". The Palermo's partners in this LIFE Program are the municipalities of Slovenska Bistrica (Slovenia) and Holargos (a municipality of Athens), along with the Climate Alliance Agency. The project officially started in November 2002 and it will end in October 2005. The subject of MedClima project is the climate protection measures for the Mediterranean cities. The emerging climatic changes are a global problem which is not only the concern of scientists across the world but of citizens as well. This project aims at actively involving the local communities in the efforts being made for the protection of climate. MedClima is focused on the Mediterranean Region, due to its proven vulnerability to climate alterations. The main environmental outcome of this project will be the long term reduction of CO{sub}2 emissions so it is to tune with Kyoto protocol. The main aim of reduction of CO{sub}2 emissions is carried out through achievement of several targets: creation of network; development of a rapid CO{sub}2 emission assessment method; development and implementation of local action plan; dissemination programme; formulation of a framework for increasing public awareness; project monitoring and evaluation; proposal for institutional arrangements regarding local climate protection policies. One of the most important steps of this project has been the definition of the layout of a rapid CO{sub}2 emission assessment method that is a valid tool of Mediterranean local authorities monitoring the interventions of local action plan during the project and after the end of it. An important contribution was given toward the development of a CO{sub}2 emission assessment method, by the Palermo Municipality, particularly for the transport sector. In fact this sector provides the highest contribution of CO{sub}2 emissions in Palermo city. Another important goal of the project is the dissemination activity that has taken place throughout the whole project; it also allowed the publication of informative material devoted to the increasing of the public awareness about climate protection measures. Particularly, two different target groups were identified: citizens and school community. For each of them, different tools for the dissemination were used. The action plan is common for all three Municipalities in order to allow for comparisons and effective confrontation of problems that may rise. The expected results of this project are a considerable reduction of CO{sub}2 emissions, the implementation of several actions and interventions to lower the emissions, the elaboration of a Handbook of the climate protection measures for Mediterranean cities and the formulation of institutional proposals to the European Community.