On 4 December 2024, the Blue Economy conference in Isola gathered experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to address climate change challenges, focusing on hydrogeological risks in coastal and riverine areas. Organised by the Italian Trade Agency, the event featured keynote lectures, panel discussions, and expert presentations.

Opening remarks were delivered by Giacomo Ricciotti, Director of the Italian Trade Agency in Ljubljana, followed by H.E. Giuseppe Cavagna, Italian Ambassador to Slovenia, and Lidija Kegljevič Zagorc, Slovenia’s State Secretary for Natural Resources and Spatial Planning.

The conference covered key topics including sea-level rise, water management, disaster prevention, infrastructure adaptation, national and international port logistics, and biodiversity loss prevention and mitigation. Discussions also included case studies on flooding disasters in Emilia-Romagna and Slovenia, highlighting best practices in disaster response.

The event emphasised the importance of long-term planning, cross-border collaboration, and innovative solutions to mitigate climate change impacts on coastal and riverine ecosystems.