Venice Sustainability Foundation took part in the Barcelona Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Resilience Forum (April 28–29, 2026), an international event promoted by UNDRR – United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Cambra de Comerç de Barcelona, and Ajuntament de Barcelona.
The initiative brought together local institutions, trade associations, and European partners to share strategies and tools dedicated to the resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises, which form the core of the local economic fabric.
Venice, recognized since November 2023 as a Resilience Hub within UNDRR’s global Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) network, stands today as a climate adaptation model for other global cities facing the challenges posed by climate change. The Municipality of Venice has entrusted Venice Sustainability Foundation with operationalizing this international role, guiding and advancing the city's progress as a resilience hub.
In this framework, VSF represented Venice in Barcelona during the panel “Strengthening SME Resilience: Opportunities and Challenges for Public-Private Partnerships,” where Director General Alessandro Costa spoke alongside representatives from Barcelona, Athens, Yerevan, and Moldova.
In his address, Costa emphasized that safeguarding Venice is a complex challenge combining environmental protection, cultural heritage, urban life, and economic activities. Within this effort, the physical protection provided by the MOSE system serves as an enabling foundation: securing the city creates the prerequisite conditions to plan for sustainable development, safeguard historical infrastructure, and strengthen operational continuity for the local communities and businesses that rely on them.
As a Resilience Hub in the MCR2030 network, Venice shares this experience with other cities navigating climate adaptation challenges and actively contributes to the global dialogue on urban resilience and sustainability.
© Barcelona City Council – CC BY‑NC‑ND
