From July 15 to 17, a delegation from the Italian Civil Defense will be on a mission to the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, one of the areas most affected by recent extreme weather events.
The initiative, promoted by the Consulate General of Italy in Porto Alegre with the support of the Italian Embassy in Brasilia, was created with the aim of sharing skills and experiences gained in Italy in the prevention and management of emergencies related to natural disasters.
The program includes stops in three of the most affected regions of southern Brazil: the capital Porto Alegre, the Vale do Taquari and the Serra Gaúcha.
In addition to institutional meetings and technical visits to the affected areas, the centerpiece of the mission will be the International Seminar on Cooperation between Rio Grande do Sul and Italian Civil Defense, scheduled for Thursday, July 18, in Bento Gonçalves.
"When we witnessed the extreme events that hit Rio Grande do Sul starting in September 2023, we immediately thought of making available the Italian experience in this field," explains Valerio Caruso, Consul General of Italy in Porto Alegre. "Unfortunately, the 2024 tragedy has made this exchange even more urgent. We are here to listen, share expertise, and offer tools that can help mitigate the impact of future climate events."
The Italian mission will be composed of four leading experts in the field of civil protection: Vittorio Bosi, a geologist with more than 25 years of experience in managing emergencies in volcanic and geological high-risk areas; Angela Corina, an expert in warning systems and management of hydrogeological risks, with senior positions in both the Italian Civil Protection and the World Meteorological Organization; Luca Rosiello, First Director of the National Fire Department, with long experience in international rescue operations in complex urban and aquatic scenarios;
Damiano Giordani, environmental and territorial engineer from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, specializing in risk modeling and disaster management.
The Ambassador of Italy to Brazil, Alessandro Cortese, wanted to emphasize the political and human significance of the initiative: "This mission is a concrete sign of Italian solidarity and of our commitment to strengthen cooperation ties with Brazil, a friendly country with which we share a long common history and a deep human bond, witnessed by the more than 30 million Italian-descendants present on its territory. Climate disaster management is a global challenge: Italy is ready to do its part through the exchange of best practices, technology and training."
Through field meetings, technical meetings and moments of confrontation with local authorities and communities, the mission aims to create new operational synergies and promote territorial resilience. In a global context increasingly marked by the effects of climate change, the exchange between Italian and Brazilian experiences presents itself as a valuable opportunity for both countries.
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