Looking back to move forward: celebrating 20 years of the Warning Directive

The Warning Directive, also known as the De Bernardinis Directive, marks its 20th anniversary. To celebrate, the Italian Department of Civil Protection, in collaboration with CIMA Research Foundation, is organizing a day dedicated to our Warning System and the journey it has taken from its inception to the present day.

The event Looking Back to Move Forward. Reflections and Perspectives 20 Years after the Establishment of the Civil Protection Alert System, takes place in Rome tomorrow, April 23rd, starting at 9:00 am. The day, inaugurated by the Minister for Civil Protection and Maritime Policies Nello Musumeci, will serve as a time for collective reflection on science in the context of the alert system, as well as to assess its impacts, analyze the responsibilities of the various stakeholders involved, and the effects of risk communication on communities. All this while keeping in sight the future perspective of the Italian alert system, which must be prepared to face the challenges posed by the climate crisis.

The meeting will feature the participation of various institutional figures involved in the Alert System (or who have played a significant role in its development), and includes a keynote lecture by Bernardo De Bernardinis, who was instrumental in advocating for and advancing the Directive, to which his name is still closely linked. The day will be concluded by the Head of the Department, Fabrizio Curcio.

It is possible to follow the event live via streaming on the website www.protezionecivile.gov.it; here you can find the agenda for the day. To learn more about the Italian Warning Directive, read our in-depth articles dedicated to its history and the scientific aspects that distinguish it.