Evidence-based steps towards climate resilient development pathways:insights across levels and sectors

Climate-Resilient Development Pathways (CRDP) proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change underscore the urgent need for effective adaptation and mitigation while sustaining socio-economic development. Achieving CRDP requires coordinated action across local, national, and international levels. In the European Union (EU), this multilevel challenge is embodied in frameworks including the European Green Deal, Climate Law, and Adaptation Strategy, which collectively seek a climate-resilient society by 2050. While Member States are mandated to pursue CRDP at a local level, empirical evidence on the enabling conditions that facilitate CRDP transitions remains limited, revealing a globally critical research gap. This paper targets that gap by drawing on 124 semi-structured interviews with policymakers and practitioners, complemented by a review of scientific literature and policy documents. Focusing on three climate-vulnerable Italian regions – Aosta Valley, Basilicata, and Sardinia – it explores CRDP across sectors at local and national scales. It asks: (i) What forms of integrated adaptation and mitigation are being pursued across sectors in these regions to address climate impacts and enhance resilience? (ii) What enabling conditions have supported transitions toward CRDP at multiple scales? Italy offers a compelling case due to its exposure to multiple climate hazards and its policy alignment with EU and global resilience agendas. Findings highlight the importance of holistic, context-specific, and long-term strategies that integrate human, water, and land systems across scales and sectors. Key enablers applicable to the pursuit of global resilience include supportive institutional frameworks, financial mechanisms, cross-sector collaboration, socio-cultural engagement, and investment in technological and infrastructural innovation.