Analysis of Hydrogeological Risks Related to Climate Change: Testing the ClimeApp Assessment Tool on the Torino Nord Homogenous Zone

The current changes in temperatures and precipitations can lead to increased frequency and magnitude of natural hazards such as floods, resulting in forthcoming losses of life and damages to private and public properties. This paper presents an applied hydrogeological risk assessment methodology developed as part of an interdisciplinary European project between France and Italy (Interreg Alcotra ARTACLIM). A practical framework is proposed to assess the risk for urban settle-ments and infrastructural assets at a sub-regional level, within one of the 11 homoge-neous zones of the Turin Metropolitan City, the “Torino Nord” Homogeneous Area of Pinerolo (ZOP). Based on the most reliable guidelines of institutions and organi-zations such as IPCC, United Nations, Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy EUROPE, the methodology here presented identifies risks related to climate change as a function of hazard (H), exposure (E) and vulnerability (V) factors, the latter one being in turn a function of sensitivity (S) and adaptive capacity (AC). Each factor is operationalized through specific indicators. The results of the analysis generate a geo-localized risk score that can be used to support urban planners and local policy-makers to prioritize the adaptation measures required for reducing hydrogeological damages related to climate change.