Conclusions: Towards spatial vulnerability management for a new "happy" living

The essay illustrates the outcome of the territorial analysis presented in this volume and invites reflection from at least two different perspectives, namely, (1) that of immediate operational interventions necessary to cope with the fragilities of contemporary living in times of an epidemic (2) and that of a long-term, radical rethinking of the ways in which we inhabit the earth, resulting from our current experience of a multifaceted crisis. The question we tried to answer in the first case is which actions may be implemented to redress the fragility of socio-territorial systems, that is, the situation that poses risks to the population during a coronavirus pandemic. As for the second perspective, assuming that the pandemic crisis has emerged within an environmental crisis, we ask how contemporary living could be radically changed in accordance with the principles for a new more equitable, sustainable, and environmentalist model, yet to be defined. Moreover, if inhabiting the earth is humanity's primary goal for satisfying both material and spiritual needs, could there be a new model of living that is able to stem the contagion and pursue ethical and aesthetic values while also respecting nature and allowing us to be happier? These issues are addressed in the essay from a strictly territorial point of view and exemplified on the Italian case; furthermore, it should be specified that the proposals presented are illustrative and are not meant to be prescriptive.