The Advanced Training and Education Center (ATEC) provides an interdisciplinary knowledge platform of education, training, and cross-cutting innovative research aimed at connecting the scientific community and policymakers towards a climate-resilient society. The Center bridges CMCC’s two decades of scientific production and climate data with capacity-building, training, and knowledge-sharing activities that promote global progress on climate action.
ATEC plays a pivotal role in developing climate adaptation and transition strategies for future generations.
Our initiatives
ATEC initiatives focus on:
i) Educating the next generation: The Center provides advanced education on climate change and sustainability for postdocs, students, and young professionals.
ii) Building a Global Knowledge Hub: ATEC is establishing itself as a reference point for peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and advanced studies on climate science worldwide.
iii) Training for Policy and Governance: ATEC offers specialized training for public authorities and the private sector at the EU and national levels on the science-policy interface and climate governance.
iv) Accelerating Innovation in the Global South: ATEC promotes capacity enhancement in the design and scaling up of promising solutions for long-term, effective climate change adaptation and sustainable development.
In addition to educational and training activities, ATEC conducts research on issues such as climate law & litigation, cultural heritage, as well as sea level rise and coastal resilience and sustainable finance. These research themes provide policymakers and corporate actors with the strategic scientific information they need to make informed decisions about emerging climate science and governance issues.
ATEC Topics
The Advanced Training and Education Center (ATEC) aims to create a knowledge platform focused on education, training, and cross-cutting innovative research to connect the scientific community and policymakers through interdisciplinary initiatives towards a more climate-resilient society.
Education
Understanding and addressing climate change is a priority that cuts across all areas of society, influencing disciplines ranging from science and policy to economics and the human and social sciences. Building on research from the CMCC Foundation, this Research Unit aims to provide a wide range of climate education opportunities, encompassing graduate degrees (Master’s and PhDs), seasonal schools, outreach courses, as well as educational activities designed for younger learners.
Focusing on the objective of ‘Educating the Next Generation,’ it aims to equip researchers and professionals with the knowledge, tools, and skills necessary to face climate-related challenges and make informed decisions.All the Education programs (Graduate Programs, Summer and Winter Schools) can be accessed here.
Contact point: Gabriele Canzi
Training and knowledge exchange
This Research Unit aims to create a global knowledge hub for sharing knowledge and conducting advanced studies on climate science. It also provides training on policy and governance and accelerates collaboration with partners from the Global South. Its main activities include training and capacity building for public administration officials, the private sector, as well as peer-to-peer knowledge exchange among experts on diverse scientific topics, through the organization of major conferences and roundtables.
Contact point: Chiara Trozzo
Climate law and litigation
This research unit sits at the nexus of climate science, policy and law, fostering cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary collaboration and targeted training to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and legal practice. This initiative aims to equip legal practitioners, policy makers and researchers with the critical knowledge and skills needed to navigate the evolving legal landscape of climate change according to the best available science, thereby addressing legal and governance challenges in a science-based approach. The activities focus on:
i) enhancing legal understanding of climate science,
ii) developing research on climate law and litigation;
iii) publishing research articles, position papers, and policy recommendations;
iv) providing capacity building for legal professionals; and
v) fostering international collaboration with climate lawyers and institutions of the Global South].
Contact points: Ivano Alogna, Elisa Fiorini Beckhauser.
ATEC Publications
A catalogue of land-based adaptation and mitigation solutions to tackle climate change
Chiriacò M. V. , Damatirca C., Abd Alla S.; Barilari S.; Biancardi Aleu R. , Brazzini T.; Lourenço T.C.; de Carolis Villars C.S.; Di Lallo G., Coelho R.E.; Espin O., Ferreras-Alonso N.; Galluccio G., [...]Trozzo C., De Notaris C.
2025, Scientific Data volume, 12, Article number: 166, doi: 10.1038/s41597-025-04484-0
Sea Level Rise in Europe: Governance context and challenges
Bisaro A., Galluccio G., Fiorini Beckhauser E., Biddau F., David R., D’Hont F., Góngora Zurro A., Le Cozannet G., McEvoy S., Pérez Gómez B., Romagnoli C., Sini E. G. , Slinger J.
2024, Copernicus Publications, doi: 10.5194/sp-3-slre1-7-2024
Sea Level Rise in Europe: Adaptation measures and decision-making principles
Galluccio G., Hinkel J.,Fiorini Beckhauser E., Bisaro A., Biancardi Aleu R. , Campostrini P., Casas M. F. , Espin O., Vafeidis A.T.
2024, Copernicus Publications, doi: 10.5194/sp-3-slre1-6-2024
