Climate change-induced droughts and their territorial impact, the case of the 2022-2023 event in Liguria

9 Introduction This research thesis investigates drought as a local and international phenomenon, analyzing the Liguria region and its repercussions in 2022/2023 at an environmental but also governance level. Drought today, moreover, is a phenomenon that is increasing in frequency and intensity which, seen globally, is the generative cause of numerous internal conflicts which will grow increasingly due to the projections on climate change. The choice of this topic is motivated by the desire to investigate the causes of this phenomenon which is manifesting itself in an increasingly systematic way in different areas of the world and to understand what the viable solutions and the negative implications for the environment are. This work discusses how we are about to interface with one of the greatest environmental security risks that we will not be able to predict or control, capable of long- term disastrous effects and affecting the most valuable resource for life on planet Earth: water. Despite being a very frequent phenomenon worldwide, there does not seem to be sufficient attention to it particularly in countries traditionally not affected by droughts such as temperate countries. This is the case of Liguria, a region characterized by a temperate and rainy climate which since early 2022 has been experiencing an incredibly significant drought, just like most of Italy and Europe. The main aim of this research is to analyse the drought in terms of its climatological and environmental manifestations, as well as for the implications at social and governance levels. The research consists of the analysis of the phenomenon through the analysis of meteorological and hydrogeological data and the methodology of semi-structured interviews 1 with various stakeholders involved in water management. The research methodology entailed a careful analysis of data, unveiling the urgency of a prompt intervention aimed at mitigating the effects of what already is current issue institutions must face and providing evidence that it is the moment to act at the various political, diplomatic, and institutional levels to implement prevention actions that can introduce innovations in terms of sustainability, prevention, and savings. The strong point 1 R. Longhurst, (2003), Semi-structured interviews and Focus Groups, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268036642, [Last Accessed 20/06/2023].