IIASA to Present Work on Planned Relocation at Austria’s Federal Ministry for Climate Action

On April 3, 2025, SYRR researcher Elisa Calliari will present her work on planned relocation at Austria’s Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation, and Technology (BMK). Her talk will focus on key findings from the ITHACA project (2022–2024), which examined the governance of preventive planned relocation in Europe.

As part of her presentation, Calliari will highlight the case of Piedmont (Piemonte), Northern Italy, which has been a pioneer in anticipatory relocation policy since 2003. The region offers voluntary buyout programs for residents living in areas at high hydro-geological risk, enabling them to move to safer locations. When relocation is not feasible due to historical or social constraints, the policy provides support for alternative vulnerability reduction measures.

Piedmont’s approach is one of the few proactive relocation policies in Europe, where such measures are typically implemented only after disasters occur. Calliari will showcase the results of IIASA’s collaboration with the Piedmont regional government, which led to updates in regional regulations based on the project’s findings. This case study highlights the role of scientific research in shaping evidence-based policies and improving climate risk management strategies.