United States - Italy JCM Earth Natural Resources Working Group
The General Director of ISPRA, dr. Alessandro Bratti, has opened the Italy – USA working Group on Earth Science (ESWG) meeting, hosted in ISPRA headquarter, Rome.
The ESWG, created in 2013 under the US-Italy Science and Technology Agreement, has the aim to enhance scientific and technological coperation on natural hazards, land and marine environment, climate, energy and earth observations.
The objective of the meeting has been the preparation of the 2018 Italy-US Joint Commission Meeting planned next December at the Italian Embassy in Washington DC.
Among the ESWG topics, natural disaster reduction was proposed as cross-cutting theme considering the impact of the climate change, increasing impact of geo-hazards, potential for space weather, and population growth, affecting coastal areas in both countries. Impacts of natural disasters can be reduced through an improved understanding of our environment and fundamental forces that shape it. Moreover earth-observing satellites provide vital information to better prepare for disaster and reduce their impact on people and property.
The meeting has been attended by delegates from both the embassies. The US delegation was composed by representatives from Geological Survey of USA and the Department of State. The Italian delegation included experts from major Italian research institutes dealing with Earth sciences (ISPRA, ING, CNR, OGS and ENEA) integrated by representatives from Civil Protection Department, Politecnico di Torino, EUCENTRE and SOTOCARBO.
