The seminar held on January 28, 2023, as part of the MASTER’s program “in environmental law and territorial management” and organized by Prof. Marisa Meli from the Department of Law at the University of Catania, featured a significant presentation by Prof. Giuseppe Cirelli. He discussed the topic of “hydrogeological protection and mitigation of hydraulic risk in urban areas” through a hybrid approach. His exposition highlighted the crucial importance of green infrastructures, such as green roofs, rain gardens, and infiltration basins, as vital tools for the sustainable management of water resources and the mitigation of hydraulic risks, especially in densely urbanized areas like the metropolitan area of Catania.

Moreover, Prof. Cirelli presented concrete proposals for reducing runoff in urban areas, developed within the context of the GIFLUID project. This initiative explores innovative strategies and solutions for water management and hydrogeological risk mitigation, with a particular focus on “Nature-Based Solutions” (NBS) and green infrastructures (green roofs, rain gardens, infiltration basins, etc.). His approach emphasized the importance of combining green and traditional “grey” infrastructures, adopting Natural Water Retention Measures (NWRM), and implementing projects like “GIFLUID” to improve water resource management and reduce risks associated with extreme weather events and changes in the urban landscape.