To implement a true Green New Deal, we have strengths to build on, but we absolutely must do more: here is what emerges from the Report on the state of the Green Economy presented and discussed at Ecomondo 2019.
This year, the Report on the state of the Green Economy presented in Rimini at Ecomondo, for 23 years the reference trade fair for the sustainable and circular economy, was unsparing. Given the intention of the new Conte government to place greater emphasis on the environment in order to boost jobs and the economy and improve people's quality of life, the theme of the report — discussed during the eighth edition of the Green Economy National Summit — could only be the Green New Deal: a reflection on what is truly needed to set the Italian and international economy on a new, sustainable course.
And the message is clear: if we genuinely want to prioritise the environment and honour the demands of the many young people (and not so young) who took to the streets during the climate strikes, we must act immediately on multiple fronts, addressing the shortcomings and making the most of the (few) areas of excellence. Not least because, under current projections, the rise in average global temperature is on course to approach 3°C by the end of the century — and to avoid devastating consequences, action must be taken now.
To assess the country's performance, the report — produced by the National Council for the Green Economy — identified nine thematic areas: greenhouse gas emissions, energy saving and efficiency, renewable sources, circular economy and efficient use of resources, eco-innovation, agriculture, land and natural capital, sustainable mobility. The country's performance in each area was calculated and then compared with that of other European countries.
In some sectors we do well, but we can — indeed must — do far more. On renewable sources, for example, we rank first in Europe. Sun, water, wind and biogas together met 18.3 per cent of national energy demand in 2017, compared with a European average of 17.5 per cent. And even though biomethane production tripled in 2018 compared with the previous year, growth across the whole sector is too slow: just 1 per cent over the last five years.
Performance on waste is also fairly good: overall, the country recycles 48 per cent of its municipal waste, ranking second in Europe (after Germany) and two percentage points above the European average. However, the circularity rate — which measures the use of recycled materials relative to raw materials — has worsened. And plastic is still used in excessive quantities. According to Edo Ronchi, president of the National Council for the Green Economy, reducing the use of this material requires more than a generic tax; what is needed is to make the use of recycled polymers more economically attractive, thereby promoting the circular economy.
The sector that perhaps receives "the highest mark on the report card" is agriculture: the area under organic cultivation stands at 15.4 per cent, and on the continent we rank second only to Spain. We also hold first place worldwide for geographically designated produce. However, despite the sector's growth and the efforts made, not enough is being done to protect a resource of immense value to us: soil.
The new CAP — that is, the Common Agricultural Policy — should aim to use agriculture itself — and organic and sustainable farming in particular — to regenerate soil and protect European biodiversity. But in the meantime we continue to lose 14 hectares of soil per day (the majority of it in the territory of 14 metropolitan cities…), putting both the country's biodiversity and its natural capital at risk.
We must do far more on emissions, which in Italy have not fallen for five years. If we are to honour the Paris Agreement and reduce CO2 by 37 per cent, as pledged in the national energy and climate plan (Pnec), in order to contribute to the overall 40 per cent emissions reduction target set for Europe, the trend will need to be reversed.
Furthermore, we are weak when it comes to climate change adaptation measures adopted by our cities, which are under threat from heatwaves and hydrogeological instability. Energy efficiency is also "creaking": gross domestic energy consumption has started rising again, driven above all by the tertiary and buildings sector — buildings in this country are too old and poorly insulated.
Finally, compared with the rest of Europe, electric mobility — fewer than 10,000 cars sold in Italy, against more than 68,000 in Germany — and eco-innovation are still growing very slowly in our country. The digitalisation of services is well below the European average, and we rank as low as 24th out of 28 member states.
These shortcomings are recognised by everyone, and above all by representatives of many companies, who on the second day of the Summit's proceedings met and exchanged views with climate experts on the solutions to be adopted in order to give the Green New Deal a push.
"Happiness and sustainability are essentially the same thing. To honour the Paris Agreement we know what to do, we know where to go. We need to decarbonise the economy, we need to produce low-emission electricity and we have the technology. Now we need a road map, a shared path. In the United States, 70 per cent of people are in favour of renewables and cutting emissions, but President Trump does not listen to the voice of America — he listens to the voice of the small but powerful oil lobby," said Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, in a video interview screened during the conference.
In addition to pledging plans to reach zero emissions within a few years, many companies were united in calling on the government for adequate financial instruments to increase investment and improve competitiveness.
Awareness of what needs to be done, in short, is growing ever stronger.
All that remains is to have the courage to take concrete action that will genuinely set the Italian economy on a truly new, sustainable course.
