Research Plan (PNR) objectives and priorities, are: − A better UNDERSTANDING of Environmental, Natural and Anthropic Risks, as well as their interrelation with the effect of climate change effects. − Enhance risk prevision and methodologies for prevention, adaptation and mitigation. − Develop new methodologies/technologies for monitoring. − Foster a more efficient and sustainable use of data, products and services. − STRENGTHEN THE BRIDGE FROM RESEARCH TO FINAL PRODUCTS while transversally enhancing the competences, technological transfer, and service integration. 

Climate change is exacerbating a number of water-related risks. These risks may be broadly subdivided according to three main drivers: 1) flooding, where 14% percent of the Italian territory is classified as flood-prone, with more than 20% of the population residing in it, and with a number of regions facing significant increase of heavy precipitation at sub-daily temporal scales; 2) droughts, as most of our territory characterized by a semi-arid climate and is vulnerable to future climate changes; 3) sea-level rise in combination with extreme weather events exacerbates flood risk in coastal areas and cities. 

In order to cope with these risks, it is critical to face two main scientific challenges: process understanding to improve predictability and the effective use of planning and prediction tools in flood risk and water management. Therefore, this action will operate in synergy with the research actions in other spokes, focusing specifically on: 

understanding the dynamics and improve the predictability of locally rare hydro-meteorological forcings in the Mediterranean basin; resolving the multi-risks, cascade and compound effects, including ​​NaTech, on urban/industrial areas and critical infrastructures;  illustrating the feasibility of a Digital Twin of the Italian territory for the sustainable management of the water-related risks;  exploiting the Digital Twin including the use of optimisation tools to revise current risk mitigation/adaptation strategies to climate and environmental changes.