Organization
The CMCC Foundation (Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change) is an international, independent, multi-disciplinary research center that studies the interaction between climate change and society.
We produce advanced climate research developing cross-cutting and multidisciplinary analyses and data that combine first-class climate modeling with climate change impact modeling and environmental economics.
Our activities aim to ensure reliable, rigorous, and timely scientific results that stimulate sustainable growth, protect the environment, and develop science-driven adaptation and mitigation policies in a changing world.
We deliver the crucial scientific insight needed for a successful transition to a sustainable future by providing foresight and quantitative analysis on our future planet and society.
We are among the world leaders and reference points in advanced scientific research, integrating all aspects of
social, economic, and environmental systems affected by climate change.
CMCC organizes its research activities through a structure that allows the collaboration and interaction of expertise from the multiple disciplines involved in research and decision-making processes aimed at finding answers to the challenges that will characterize the coming decades.
This organization of research ensures an interdisciplinary dimension that makes CMCC a unique global player in climate studies and enables the center to work on the entire climate research chain, as well as on social, economic, and technological dimensions.
CMCC Foundation has obtained the “Equivalency Determination” qualification, meaning that the entity is considered as the equivalent of a U.S 501(c)(3) public charity in the reception and allocation of charitable donations.
Mission
To investigate and model our climate system and its interactions with society to provide reliable, rigorous, and timely scientific results to stimulate sustainable growth, protect the environment and develop science driven adaptation and mitigation policies in a changing climate.
To develop foresights and quantitative analysis of our future planet and society.
Values
CMCC is committed to inform and facilitate the dialogue between scientists, decision makers and the general public to support decisions and actions for the benefit of society and environment.
CMCC is committed to encourage discipline convergence to spur new and creative ideas and to ensure that environmental observations, analyses, predictions and services most effectively meet the needs of society.
CMCC is an equal opportunity employer, actively promoting diversity in the workplace.
CMCC is a non advocacy institution.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors (BoD), which has ordinary and extraordinary management powers, remains in office for a period of three years and is currently composed of 8 members.
Antonio Navarra – (CMCC President), Donatella Spano (Vice President), Antonio Marcomini, Fabio Pollice, Giorgiana De Franceschi, Stefano Ubertini, Richard Newell, Stefano Consonni
The Board delegates the ordinary management of specific problems to the Executive Committee, which is currently composed of 3 members:
Antonio Navarra (Director), Donatella Spano (member), Antonio Marcomini (member).
Scientific Committee
The Scientific Committee provides advice on CMCC’s research activities, strategic plan and organization, as well as support on specific matters raised by the Chairman of the Board. It is appointed by the Board and is made up of eight highly qualified experts selected among the international scientific and academic community.
Members of the Scientific Committee are appointed by rotation every three years: four new members are appointed, four of the old members are confirmed and the four old members not confirmed are appointed as “Honorary Fellows”.
Board of Statutory Auditors
Rodolfo Fiocchi (President), Vincenzo Di Felice (standing statutory auditor), Renato Sanseverino (standing statutory auditor), Sara Rossi (substitute statutory auditor), Stefano De Santis (substitute statutory auditor), Luigi Andrea Carello (accounting Auditor).
CMCC was established in 2005 with the financial support of the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research, and the Ministry of the Environment, Land and Sea, and it has been fully operative since 2006. On 10 December 2015, the Center became a Foundation, representing CMCC’s legal status, contents, aims and operational modalities.
CMCC cofounders institutions are: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Università degli Studi del Salento, Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia, Università di Sassari, Università della Tuscia, Politecnico di Milano, Resources for the Future, Università di Bologna.
Executive Leadership
The Executive Leadership comprises the President, Scientific Director, and Operations Director. This leadership team guides and coordinates all CMCC activities to ensure that the Center meets the challenges defined by the research strategy and consolidates its position as one of the world’s most advanced research institutions in the field of the interaction between climate and society.
Executive leadership is supported by the Executive Office and the General Counsel.
The Scientific Director carries out the directives and scientific guidelines of the governing bodies, directing and promoting scientific activity. It is responsible for implementing the strategies through the definition of the scientific plan, the coordination of the Research Institutes, and the implementation of the resolutions of the Executive Committee.
The Operations Director executes the decisions and the directives of the governing Bodies by directing, promotes and manages the administrative activities. She is responsible for implementing the decisions of the statutory bodies, coordinating all activities of the Administration Center and supports the President in organizing and supervising all activities related to legal and institutional affairs.
Executive Office
The Executive Office team enables the Executive Leadership to oversee the most relevant issues for the Foundation and its mission is to turn strategic directions into concrete actions through cross-functional coordination and supervision of special and key initiatives and programs, whether scientific, institutional, or operational.
It acts as an intermediary between the Executive Leadership and the rest of the organization, supporting the decision-making process and maintaining internal alignment.
It deals with day to day secretarial operations of the Foundation, manages relationships with external stakeholders and, through the Organization, Processes, and Change area, ensures that the organizational structure and operational processes are aligned with the strategic ambitions and priorities of the Executive Leadership.
Head of Executive Office
Rosella Marasco
[email protected]
General Counsel
The General Counsel team supports the Executive Leadership in managing strategic legal matters, ensuring regulatory compliance, minimizing legal and reputational risks, and protecting the Foundation’s interests. It oversees governance processes by providing legal advice to governing bodies, managing agenda planning, and monitoring institutional shareholdings. The team handles Compliance & Internal Control, developing operational models and verifying operational accuracy. In the strategic area, it assesses legal impacts, supports the negotiation of institutional agreements, and manages litigation.
The mission is to support the Executive Leadership in strategic decision-making and the management of relevant legal matters, ensuring regulatory compliance, minimizing risks, and guaranteeing the proper functioning of the Governing Bodies and the dissemination of decisions, while promoting transparent and efficient governance.
Head of General Counsel
Flavia Carnicelli
Research
CMCC is an international institution producing advanced research on climate modeling while developing transversal and multidisciplinary competencies that combine first-class climate modeling with climate change impact modeling and environmental economics.
To this end, CMCC organizes its research activities through a structure that allows for the collaboration and interaction of expertise from the many disciplines involved in responding to the challenges that characterize the coming decades.
This organization of research ensures a cross-disciplinary dimension that makes CMCC a unique player in climate studies and allows the center to work on the entire chain of climate research (from drivers to impacts), as well as the social, economic and technological dimensions.
Three Research Institutes
Four Strategic programs
Three Infrastructural Centers
Research Intitutes
Three institutes are home to Earth’s sciences and social sciences researchers from all over the world who collaborate in a highly multidisciplinary environment.
The interplay of these three institutes ensures a cross-disciplinary dimension that makes CMCC a unique player in climate studies and allows the center to work on the entire chain of climate research (from drivers to impacts), as well as the social, economic and technological dimensions.
The CMCC Research Institutes are:
Strategic Programs
Four programs identify challenges that are crucial to understanding the challenges facing socioeconomic systems for in a changing climate environment and social context.
These challenges include:
- Understanding a new economic paradigm that characterizes future societies in a net zero emissions world by integrating the planetary biogeochemical and industrial carbon cycle;
- Producing science-based information to support policies aimed at building resilient societies through predictions of the socio-economic impacts of climate change;
- Developing advanced models to inform decision-making processes such as global coasts that represent a new frontier of sustainable development;
- Leveraging the technological revolution of AI and ML to better integrate the growing amount of data and the opportunities of new technologies into the climate modeling chai with an innovative data driven approach.
The four CMCC Programs are:
Our Centers
The research activities of the institutes and programs can rely on 3 centers providing a solid infrastructure to CMCC’s strategic agenda.
CMCC’s High Performance Computing Centre (HPCC) is among the most advanced computational facilities in Europe and the most powerful in Italy fully dedicated to climate research on the interaction between climate and socioeconomic systems.
The Advanced Digital Innovation Center (ADIC) is a transformative hub dedicated to revolutionizing the way we understand and address climate change. ADIC bridges cutting-edge technology with the critical research needs of the future.
The Advanced Training and Education Centre (ATEC) provides education, training, exchange, and knowledge transfer on climate change. The Centre builds on the CMCC Foundation’s two decades of expertise to address global challenges by fostering interdisciplinary approaches and skills. It plays a pivotal role in developing climate adaptation and transition strategies for future generations.
Operations
The Operations Directorate of the CMCC Foundation governs all the operational and managerial activities of the organization and it guarantees their smooth and continuous performance. It supports the definition and development of the CMCC institutional strategy and contributes to the stability and economic-financial balance of the Foundation by actively participating in the fundraising activities for the development of the CMCC strategy.
Through a continuous process of planning and rationalization of resources and investments, it aims to improve the operational management of the Foundation, safeguarding its effectiveness and enhancing the quality of research and development activities.
Together with the Scientific Department, it guides the strategic positioning and promotion of the CMCC among the scientific and institutional communities at national, European and international level.
The Operations Directorate consists of six functions that guarantee the integrated and coordinated management of strategic and operational activities.
The mission of the team is to provide comprehensive and timely legal support that helps the Foundation achieve its strategic goals.
The mission of the Public Procurement team is to ensure effective and transparent management of public procurement, in adherence to applicable regulations.
The mission of the Information Technology team is to empower our organization with cutting-edge technology, robust security measures and data-driven insight to achieve the foundation mission and goal effectively and efficiently.
The mission of the Admin, Finance & Control team is to provide high-quality, efficient and transparent financial services that support the Foundation’s mission and target objectives achievement, by providing accurate and timely financial information.
The mission of the Facility Management and HSE team is to provide high-quality, safe, and sustainable working environments, ensuring health, safety, and comfort while aligning with the strategic objectives of the Foundation. The team is committed to promoting eco-friendly practices and minimizing risks, thereby contributing to the well-being and productivity of all CMCC personnel.
Fund-Raising
The Fund-Raising Office plays a pivotal role in securing financial support for climate-related research projects at national, European, and international levels. Its key activities include:
- Strategic Fundraising Planning: in line with specific objectives, timelines, and budgets set by the Executive Leadership, the FR Office contributes to the development of long-term fundraising strategies aimed at expanding CMCC’s financial resources.
- Identifying and Analyzing Funding Opportunities: the FR Office constantly monitors, scouts, and evaluates funding sources, including public tenders, grants, sponsorships, and donations, that align with CMCC’s research objectives.
- Proposal Development and Submission: in collaboration with CMCC researchers and staff, the FR Office prepares high-quality grant proposals, ensuring compliance with eligibility, financial, and administrative requirements. It also drafts essential documentation, including financial, legal, and contractual agreements for selected calls and for all funding opportunities.
- Internal and External Coordination: the FR Office serves as a key liaison between CMCC researchers, directors, and management teams, as well as external partners and funding authorities, to ensure smooth communication and coordination throughout the proposal.
- Tracking and Reporting: yhe office monitors the progress of fundraising initiatives, tracking performance against goals, and providing regular updates and reports to internal stakeholders, ensuring transparency and accountability.
- Stakeholder Engagement and Relations: building and nurturing relationships with donors, companies, institutions, and other stakeholders is a key focus. The office actively engages with potential funders, presenting CMCC’s research impact and securing partnerships for future projects.
By integrating these activities, the Fundraising Office supports the research center’s mission to advance scientific knowledge and develop innovative solutions to tackle climate change.
CMCC is a non-profit foundation and a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
Head Fund-Raising
Ivana Losa
CONTACTS
c/o BASE – via Ambrogio Bergognone da Fossano, 34,
20144 Milano (Italy)