How can scientific knowledge be translated into practical responses to climate risks? This was the central question at SISC2026, the annual conference of the Italian Society for Climate Sciences, which brought together 130 participants from eight countries in Bolzano, Italy. CMCC contributed around 20 presentations and posters to the scientific programme. “It is no longer enough to describe climate change in terms of hazards and impacts: we need to build the resilience of communities, infrastructure and ecosystems,” says Paola Mercogliano, CMCC Principal Scientist and President of SISC.

Climate risks are no longer confined to future scenarios. Heatwaves, droughts and floods are already affecting territories, with impacts spreading across interconnected sectors and systems. Against this backdrop, the challenge is not simply to understand and describe these hazards, but to strengthen the capacity of communities, infrastructure and ecosystems to withstand them and adapt.

This was the starting point for SISC2026, the 14th Annual Conference of the Italian Society for Climate Sciences, entitled “Building Resilience to Current and Forthcoming Climate Risks”. Hosted by Eurac Research and co-organised with SISC, the conference took place in Bolzano from 2 to 4 November. It brought together researchers, economists, practitioners, business representatives and policymakers to discuss climate challenges and possible responses, with a particular focus on connecting scientific knowledge with governance, innovation and societal transformation.

“It is no longer enough to describe climate change in terms of hazards and impacts: we need to build the resilience of communities, infrastructure and ecosystems, placing adaptation and mitigation at the heart of our response to climate change,” says Paola Mercogliano, CMCC Principal Scientist and President of SISC. “Risk assessment is also high on the institutional agenda today: in Italy, with the launch of the work of the National Observatory for Adaptation; and in Europe, with preparations for the second European Climate Risk Assessment, EUCRA-2. Alongside these efforts, numerous national and European projects and activities are bringing risk to the forefront of research.”

CMCC has been supporting SISC since its establishment and, for this edition, contributed to shaping the scientific programme, co-chairing the Scientific Committee alongside Eurac Research.

In Bolzano, CMCC presented around 20 contributions, including presentations and posters, and coordinated several sessions. Its work covered a broad range of topics, from high-resolution climate modelling and downscaling, including the use of artificial intelligence, to multi-hazard climate services and early warning systems. Particular attention was also given to practical support for public authorities, including risk assessments for infrastructure and public assets, local adaptation plans, governance and climate justice.

The programme reflected the need to connect climate research with the tools that decision-makers need for planning and action. “We designed the programme to bring climate scientists, economists, social scientists, institutions and businesses into dialogue, and over these past few days that exchange has really taken place,” Mercogliano explains.

Alongside advances in understanding the climate system and extreme events, the conference showcased practical tools and approaches, including climate services, early warning systems, risk assessments for public authorities and examples of adaptation planning in Italian regions. “I was particularly impressed by the governance session, which brought several regions together and highlighted the great capacity of local stakeholders to develop data and tools that are relevant to building territorial resilience,” Mercogliano commented. “The keynote lectures on systemic risks, extreme events and human rights reminded us that risks must be understood in an integrated way, and that responses must be equitable, leaving no one behind, especially the most vulnerable.”

The conference also reached out to the wider public through a programme of side events. These included Bike4SISC, a cycling journey from Bologna to Bolzano, as well as public events held at various venues across the city. These initiatives helped bring the climate conversation beyond scientific conference rooms and closer to local communities.

“Above all, this conference has given us a picture of an Italian scientific community that is vibrant, open and able to work together. This is the community we must continue to nurture and invest in: it is the foundation for providing the country with responses that match the scale of the challenges ahead,” says Mercogliano.