In an era when climate conversations are frequently dominated by polarizing debates, local communities are quietly proving that the path forward requires something far more grounded. On September 23, the historic Sala Ex Macelli in Montepulciano opened its doors for a deeply engaging pilot activity: “Community Lens: Visualizing & Negotiating Local Resilience“, deployed as part of the EU-funded NEUROCLIMA toolkit.
Brought to life by the lead partner of the NEUROCLIMA consortium, Politecnico di Milano, in close collaboration with the Municipality of Montepulciano, energy experts from Fedabo, and the Benefit Society Territori Sostenibili, the morning brought together a wide variety of participants, including including representatives of the municipal administration, experts, local residents, representatives of the tourism sector, and people involved in designing the local energy community. The session offered a masterclass in how communities can confront complex trade-offs without losing their identity.
Mapping the Interdependencies of a Living Territory
The morning began with an introduction by Territori Sostenibili detailing the ongoing work around the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) certification path for Montepulciano. Following an overarching frame of the NEUROCLIMA framework and its objectives, participants split into two working groups alongside expert facilitators to tackle a hands-on territorial mapping exercise. Rather than looking at climate resilience strictly as an environmental emergency response, the exercise challenged participants to view Montepulciano as an interconnected ecosystem where water, energy, mobility, tourism, agriculture, landscape, and everyday quality of life are inextricably linked.
The two groups approached the canvas with distinct perspectives: The Locals cast a wide lens, focusing on structural interdependencies across the local economy, public services, daily life, and tourism; a second group named For a Tomorrow leaned naturally into the mechanics of the energy transition, analyzing how power generation intersects with the local fabric.
Playing with Reality: The Trade-Off Game Cards
Following an expert briefing from Fedabo on renewable energy communities (RECs), the groups stepped into the core of the methodology using the strategic game cards developed by POLIMI with technical input from Fedabo. Armed with a limited fictional budget in credits, participants faced a classic policy dilemma: which actions to fund immediately, and which to defer.
The exercise generated spirited, highly pragmatic debates. Both groups converged around clear shared priorities: renewable energy communities, consumption reduction, and accessible sustainable mobility. However, their strategic nuances exposed the fine lines of local governance:
-
- The Locals made water resource management their absolute top priority, recognizing it as the lifeblood of agriculture, tourism, and local survival. Their hardest concession was adaptive viticulture – acknowledging the vital necessity of safeguarding Montepulciano’s iconic wine heritage while grappling with climate pressures. Year-round tourism was accepted only under strict conditions of local governance and proactive planning.
-
- For a Future prioritized energy independence through local resource utilization and the creation of cool public spaces. Yet, the group drew a firm line regarding rural aesthetics and agricultural land use, expressing deep caution toward interventions perceived as invasive—specifically agrivoltaics and, in some instances, rooftop photovoltaic installations. Their financial trade-offs came with a non-negotiable condition: unfinanced actions must not be discarded, but secured within a long-term roadmap.
Voices from the Territory
The dialogue was anchored firmly in daily realities, seasoned wisdom, and a fierce protection of the local landscape:
“I’m in the country; I don’t want panels on my roof“. Let’s strip away year-round tourism: we don’t need it“. “Water is fundamental; without water, we do nothing.” “There are many problems beyond energy.”… These reflections highlighted a vital takeaway: communities are not resistant to the green transition itself; they are resistant to top-down solutions that disregard local identity, landscape, and human scale.
The dialogue doesn’t end with the workshop bells at Sala Ex Macelli. To ensure that every resident and stakeholder has a voice in shaping Montepulciano’s future, the conversation has officially expanded onto Deliberate, the NEUROCLIMA HUB’s public deliberation tool.
The online forum invites the wider community to weigh in on a central question: What actions should Montepulciano prioritize in the coming years to boost its resilience, successfully balancing the energy transition, water security, landscape preservation, agriculture, tourism, and resident well-being?
The insights gathered online will be synthesized alongside the workshop results to refine the pilot’s priorities and forge a robust, shared local roadmap.
Get Involved
Are you a resident, business owner, or stakeholder in Montepulciano? Shape the roadmap of your community’s future. Join the ongoing discussion on the Deliberate platform.
Want to stay informed as our pilots unfold across Europe? Subscribe to the NEUROCLIMA Newsletter to join our growing community of citizens, researchers, policymakers, and local leaders, and receive exclusive updates on our work, resources and activities.
