Ecological transition, biodiversity, circularity and sustainable lifestyles. These were the themes at the centre of the Sicilian leg of A2A's Life Talks "Territori sostenibili: un'impresa comune", held on 29 October. In Palermo, presenting the Sicilian territorial sustainability report, the life company engaged with stakeholders and citizens on the best strategies for generating positive impacts on the local economy, with the aim of fostering ecological transition and safeguarding a territory rich in biodiversity.

The Life Talks, a format in keeping with the life company's objectives

The event – organised on the eve of the inauguration of the wind and photovoltaic plants at Matarocco and Mazara del Vallo and hosted by Tessa Gelisio – was opened by Carlotta Ventura, Chief Communications, Sustainability and Regional Affairs Officer at A2A, who presented the objectives of the Life Talks on the territory, explaining why this formula is perfectly in line with the evolutionary process from multiutility to Life company. "Increasing opportunities for exchange with a view to ongoing dialogue with the stakeholders and citizens of the territories in which we operate," she noted, "is fundamental to giving back actions that are genuinely useful to those territories." The numbers speak for themselves: 45 activities organised, 84 meetings, more than 100,000 students reached and 18 company facilities involved.

Investment in infrastructure for ecological transition on the rise

Equally significant are the figures relating to A2A's presence and territorial impact in Sicily. It was Renato Mazzoncini, Chief Executive Officer of the company, who went into detail on the island's territorial sustainability report. We are talking about more than 54 million in infrastructure investment (a figure up 264 per cent in a single year) and an overall value generated for the region in excess of 39 million; also on the rise is renewable energy production, with more than 80 GWh generated in 2023, avoiding the emission of 34,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

"In 2023 we invested more than 50 million euros in Sicily – roughly three times the previous year – directed in particular towards increasing energy production from renewable sources," explained Renato Mazzoncini. "Our customer base was historically concentrated in the North, but we are now increasingly integrated at a national level: we aim to grow further in Sicily, in line with the 2024–2035 strategic plan, which rests on two pillars: the circular economy and energy transition." The dialogue with local businesses was also very fruitful: last year 19.6 million was allocated to them, with 68 per cent of those funds going to micro and small enterprises with fewer than 50 employees.

Sicily's future between ecological transition, climate change and biodiversity

Following the address by the Mayor of Palermo, Roberto Lagalla, Mazzoncini also took part in the subsequent round table, in conversation with Arturo Vallone, Director General of the Water and Waste Department of the Sicilian Region, Paolo Amenta, President of Anci Sicilia, and Luca Bianchi, Director General of Svimez. At the heart of the debate was the need to push more decisively on renewable energies in pursuit of ecological transition, generating positive impacts in a territory already affected by climate change and which is also a biodiversity hotspot. The South in general and Sicily in particular, Mazzoncini pointed out, are fundamental to confirming our country's leadership in exports and manufacturing; and the "openness" of cities to collaborate with the territory is equally important in enabling the investments necessary for the transition to be put into practice.

On this point, Vallone highlighted how the Region is drawing up a significant investment plan on the management of water services and waste, devising long-term measures through dialogue with local communities. Amenta, meanwhile, stressed that municipalities are central to every challenge linked to ecological transition; public-private partnership is one of the keys being used to encourage investment in a region that, on the waste front, is significantly increasing separate waste collection but suffers from a chronic shortage of recovery plants. European targets on transition cannot be met without the South, Bianchi warned, which means the right conditions for investment must be created, starting with a greater presence of industrial operators.

Ilaria Capua: health is circular too

The event was closed by virologist Ilaria Capua, with an address on the theme "Circular health, a way of thinking", illustrating the extent to which our health depends on the health of the environment in which we live. "Our health is circular," she said, "because it depends on the health of the ecosystem. We must understand that its essential elements are out of balance and we must therefore do everything we can to restore that balance. After the mistakes made, above all in the last century, we have now understood a great deal — but understanding is not enough; we also need to act. We must all commit personally and stop thinking that someone else will always take care of it; a fairer approach is needed and we must show greater respect for the planet that hosts us, starting with plants and animals and extending to the land, waterways and oceans. We have reached a point at which there is a convergence of crises: I hope that the shockwave of the pandemic will make us reflect on how important it is to rediscover this balance."

The inauguration of the new plants at Matarocco and Mazara del Vallo

A2A currently operates in Sicily with eleven plants, two of which were inaugurated the day after the Life Talks: a wind farm at Matarocco and a photovoltaic plant at Mazara del Vallo. "Sicily," Mazzoncini added, "is an island blessed with good fortune when it comes to renewable energies: Italy's only indigenous energy sources are water, sun, waste and wind, and these are what we must focus on to increase our level of energy autonomy."

The wind farm at Matarocco, located between Marsala and Mazara del Vallo, has a total capacity of 30 MW and an estimated annual output of approximately 79 GWh, equivalent to the energy needs of 26,000 families; it will also make it possible to avoid the emission of approximately 31,600 tonnes of CO2, equivalent to the absorption capacity of 250,000 trees. The solar park at Mazara del Vallo, meanwhile, has an installed capacity of 12.6 MW and is expected to produce 25 GWh of energy in 2025 – corresponding to the consumption of 8,300 families – reducing CO2 emissions by 10,000 tonnes, equivalent to the absorption of 80,000 trees.