Climate Change
“Climate change” refers to long-term changes in temperatures and weather patterns. These changes can occur naturally, for example through variations in the solar cycle. However, since the 19th century, human activities have been the main factor behind climate change, mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.
On the occasion of the Anteprima del Vino Nobile 2025, Montepulciano hosted a seminar on climate change and its implications for people’s lives and the economy of the territories. Before the international press gathered in Fortezza, spoke Giuseppe Giaccardi Coordinator of the Scientific Committee of the research project Tourism Climate-sensitive ENIT; Guido Guidi, meteorologist Colonel of the Air Force; Luigi Mariani, agrometeorologist and professor at the University of Brescia and Roberta Garibaldi, President of the Italian Association for Food and Wine Tourism and curator of the Sustainable Food and Wine Tourist Card (CarTES) to which also joined the Municipality of Montepulciano.
The comparison showed that, while the impact of climate change on the entire wine production chain is now well known and widely studied, less well-known is the increasing attention paid by tourists to the choice of destinations for their holidays. A choice that is increasingly directed towards those locations that best guarantee an authentic and exciting experience, but above all attentive to the environment and sustainability.
To deepen the relationship between climate and tourist demand, here are the slides created and displayed by Giuseppe Giaccardi and the e-books in free download “Il turismo diventa clima-sensitive” and “Turismo: l’innovazione climate-sustainable” by Fondazione Santagata and Studio Giaccardi e Associati.
Training Workshop for Montepulciano Tourism Operators, February 17, 2025
On Monday, February 17, 2025, a free online training workshop was held for Montepulciano tourism operators. This opportunity, offered by the Municipality of Montepulciano and Territori Sostenibili, was an opportunity to improve water and energy resource management, reduce costs, and make local economic activities more sustainable. By participating in the event, companies received a personalized report and the SUSTI sustainability certificate, materials with practical advice, and access to a working group for a free calculation of CO2 emissions.
Montepulciano Climate-Sustainable, New Challenges and Opportunities – November 14, 2025
How can we address the challenges of climate change by transforming them into opportunities for sustainable development? This was the central question of the meeting “Montepulciano Climate-Sustainable, New Challenges and Opportunities,” held on Friday, November 14, 2025, in the Sala Polivalente Ex Macelli, with institutions, businesses, and citizens.
A morning of discussion dedicated to the climate emergency and its impacts, not only on daily life, but also on the tourism sector. This topic is increasingly influencing travelers’ choices and is presenting tourist destinations with new scenarios, requiring them to make informed decisions. The morning opened with presentations by Robert Kropfitsch (CEO) and Ilaria Salvia of Territori Sostenibili, and Giuseppe Giaccardi, strategy consultant and CEO of Studio Giaccardi & Associati, and continued with a focus group that allowed citizens and operators to put forward proposals and share ideas. You can view the focus group report at this link.
The event was promoted by the Municipality of Montepulciano in collaboration with Strada Vino Nobile Montepulciano and Sapori Valdichiana Senese. At this link you can view the focus group report (ita)
Webinar for Tourism Operators “Measure to Know” – Monday, December 15, 2025
The meeting for tourism businesses in Montepulciano, promoted by the Municipality of Montepulciano and organized by Territori Sostenibili, took place online on December 15, 2025, as part of the Montepulciano Sustainable Destination initiative. The initiative provided an important opportunity for in-depth analysis of measuring the environmental impacts of tourism activities.
The training focused on the importance of adopting appropriate indicators to monitor energy and water consumption, waste production, and greenhouse gas emissions. These are essential tools for understanding your impact and contributing concretely to the region’s climate objectives. This approach is increasingly strategic for businesses aiming to integrate sustainability into their daily operations and strengthen the value of the destination as a whole.
Robert Kropfitsch, Managing Partner of Territori Sostenibili, and Ilaria Salvia, Certification and Sustainability Specialist for Territori Sostenibili, presented the SUSTI model, designed to help tourism businesses monitor their consumption.
The slides shown during the webinar can be downloaded here: Evento Formazione Imprese Montepulciano 15 dicembre
Some useful data
Air quality report
ARPAT, the Regional Agency for Environmental Protection of Tuscany monitors the state of the environment; it carries out investigations into the sources of pollution and the impacts that derive from them, dealing with the identification and prevention of risk factors for the health of the environment and people.
At this link you can view the periodic reports published (in italian).
Siena Carbon Neutral
Did you know that Montepulciano is located in a territory, that of the Province of Siena, which is completely Carbon Neutral? At this link you can find out more (en version).
