The importance of tourism stems from its sheer scale: international tourism alone moves 1.5 billion people annually, generating over 2 trillion dollars and contributing to the employment of one in ten workers globally.

Other factors also contribute to its importance, alongside these large numbers and growth. The cross-cutting nature of the economic, environmental, and socio-cultural impacts in places visited by tourists leads to infrastructure development, enhancement, cultural production and exchange, the multifunctionality of businesses, and the creation of new market outlets for local products.

In this perspective, Biennale della Sostenibilità 2025 “Urbs et Civitas” will host the international conference “Smart and Sustainable Tourism. Impacts, Approaches, Solutions”, an initiative organised by VSF in collaboration with the North Adriatic Sea Port Authority – Ports of Venice and Chioggia as part of the ADRIJOROUTES Project funded by the European Interreg Italy-Croatia programme. The meeting will provide an opportunity to hear about the current state of tourism and its future prospects, as well as a discussion on innovative approaches and solutions for smart and sustainable tourism, with a focus on global urban areas. With this in mind, the urbs expands and contracts according to the presence of the civitas, which is composed not only of residents but also of workers, students, and visitors themselves.

Cities are privileged centres of innovation, connectivity, skills, and density, as well as destinations for tourist flows concentrated in time and space. They therefore act as laboratories for tourism innovation, integrating sustainability, inclusion, technology, and participation. Cities such as Venice, the heart of VSF’s activities, act as catalysts for processes that facilitate technical, economic, and social development towards smart and sustainable tourist destinations.

The conference will consist of three sessions:

• Session I: Impacts. Looking at the world through the lens of tourism.
• Session II: Approaches. Cities as laboratories for smart, innovative, and sustainable tourism.
• Session III: Solutions. VSF members for smart and sustainable tourism.

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“Venice as a dual model for climate adaptation – Infrastructure meets nature-based learning” is the title of the side event organised by Venice Sustainability Foundation at the Italian Pavilion “Made for Our Future” at COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

The event presents Venice as a dual model of climate adaptation, where advanced engineering solutions combine with the resilience of nature, while integrating a widespread system of education and continuous learning.

The MOSE system – an integrated complex of works inside and outside the lagoon – is proof of how large-scale infrastructure and nature-based solutions (NBS) can work together. The morphological restoration of the lagoon, plant-based purification systems (phytoremediation), and ecological corridors have, in fact, enhanced the effectiveness and adaptive capacity of MOSE in the long term, contributing to the restoration of the lagoon’s balance.

At the same time, the City Campus project – a VSF thematic area dedicated to developing the knowledge economy in Venice – aims to transform Venice into a veritable open-air laboratory, where researchers, institutions, and citizens collaborate to test local climate adaptation strategies through field learning.

Venice thus positions itself as a place that is both a barrier and a laboratory against the climate crisis.
This event aims to share replicable methodologies and governance models that can transform vulnerable coastal areas into campuses for resilience education, offering a sustainable adaptation model that is scalable globally and paving the way for a more resilient and inclusive urban future.

The initiative is organized by VSF with CORILA, Iuav University of Venice (UNESCO Chair on Heritage and Urban Regeneration), the University of Southern Denmark (SDU, UNESCO Chair on Urban Resilience), and in collaboration with Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), SAVE Spa, and Thetis Spa.

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Rising sea levels are a global phenomenon that endangers not only the environment and the economy, but also the very identity of coastal communities. Coastal areas are among the most densely populated regions on the planet, hosting 11 of the world’s 15 largest megacities. Over 600 million people currently reside less than 10 metres above sea level, a number that is projected to double by the end of the 21st century. These territories, which serve as nerve centers for many human activities, require adaptation strategies. 

In this scenario, Venice appears as an international model of resilience. 

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Venice has already experienced the consequences of sea level rise and is currently developing innovative solutions to protect its cultural heritage. For these reasons, it has been recognised as a Resilience Hub as part of the “Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030)” campaign promoted by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). 

How, then, can we safeguard our cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible, in the face of this challenge? How can we ensure the resilience of coastal cities while preserving the link between urbs (the physical city) and civitas (the community)?

Aligned  with the programme of Biennale della Sostenibilità 2025, which is dedicated to the balance between urbs and civitas, Venice Sustainability Foundation is organising a day of reflection and international dialogue on the theme of resilience.

The event is structured in two parts:

1. International conference “Coastal cities, climate resilience and cultural heritage protection”

9.30 am – 1.30 pm (admission from 9.00 am), Teatro Piccolo Arsenale

This meeting, organised by VSF in collaboration with UNDRR, aims to create a space for discussion among coastal cities worldwide, to develop concrete initiatives and foster a lasting network of relationships.
The event aims to promote constructive dialogue between experts, public administrators, and citizens to define adaptation strategies that take into account both the urbs – with its physical vulnerabilities – and the civitas – with its capacity for resilience and its deep connection to the territory.
At the end of the conference, a new publication by VSF will be presented: “History of Venice’s resilience. Economic, social, and urban challenges and transformations over the last two centuries” (“Storia della resilienza di Venezia. Sfide e trasformazioni economiche, sociali e urbanistiche degli ultimi due secoli”, currently only available in Italian). 

A light lunch will be served (1.30 pm – 2.30 pm).

2. Closing event of the exhibition “Intelligent Venice: the oldest city of the future”, Special Project of Venice Sustainability Foundation (VSF) for the Biennale Architettura 2025

2.30 pm – 4 pm, Tesa dell’Isolotto, Darsena Grande dell’Arsenale

The exhibition tells the story of an extraordinary millenary project, a history of medieval inventions and contemporary technologies, of interventions on nature and anthropisation, of survival and resilience strategies, through which the city’s ability to survive a hostile environment has unfolded over centuries, thanks to the constant exercise of intelligence.

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The transition to a climate-neutral economy requires systemic action in the energy and mobility sectors. In this context, clean hydrogen (H2) is a decisive factor in the decarbonization of heavy transport and industry, the integration of renewable sources, and strengthening cooperation between territories.

“The Evolution of Clean Hydrogen. Perspectives from production to use in mobility and industry” is the final event of the European project H2MA – Green Hydrogen Mobility for Alpine Region Transportation, co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Alpine Space Program. H2MA aims to accelerate the development of hydrogen infrastructure for public transport and freight. Among the results achieved are a shared tool for planning hydrogen refueling networks, pilot strategies for developing H2 corridors, a Green H2 Route Masterplan, and Roadmaps for H2 Valleys to guide investments, financing, and synergies. These outcomes pave the way for sustainable hydrogen mobility that is truly extended to the entire Alpine area.

The conference, co-organized by Venice Sustainability Foundation (VSF) in collaboration with Codognotto and included in the official program of Biennale della Sostenibilità 2025, offers a forum for institutions, businesses, and research centers to share experiences, findings, and new opportunities for the large-scale dissemination of hydrogen applications in Europe and the Alpine region.

The event program includes a session organized by VSF on ongoing initiatives in the Venice and Veneto areas, with contributions from institutions, operators, and businesses. Developments in hydrogen production and pipeline infrastructure, transport solutions, and sustainable mobility will be presented, along with projects for the port and airport of Venice related to sustainable logistics. The local focus will show how clean hydrogen can serve as a lever for ecological transition and territorial development, connecting innovation with real applications in transport, logistics, and industry.

The event was held in English with simultaneous translation.

On Wednesday, October 29, AVM provided free hydrogen-powered vehicles for all participants, subject to availability (the capacity for each bus is 70 passengers).

Departure for Venice Heritage Tower (Via dell’Azoto, 4)

• from Piazzale Roma (lane A8)
  • first departure at 8:15 a.m.;
  • second departure at 9:00 a.m.;
• from Mestre railway station (Piazzale Favretti)
  • first departure at 8:15 a.m.;
  • second departure at 8:45 a.m.;

Return from Venice Heritage Tower

• to Piazzale Roma
  • first departure at 2:00 p.m.;
  • second departure at 2:30 p.m.;
• to Mestre railway station
  
  • first departure at 2:00 p.m.;
  • second departure at 2:30 p.m.;

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