Italy surprisingly leader in renewable energy
The States General of the Green Economy who gathered in Rimini on November, 8- 9 and showed that the Italian green economy is now mature and ready to compete on international markets.
The annual green event, ended with a focus on the city as a new driver of sustainable development. Key moments in 2016 edition were the presentation of the report on the state of the green economy dedicated to the Italian green economy in Europe and worldwide, and a strong international footprint.In its report on energy efficiency, ENEA (the National Agency for Energy and the Environment), has highlighted the fact that Italy is one of the leading nations in Europe in this field: the intensity of level of energy intensity is 18% lower than the EU average.
Between 1990 and 2014, the country hit the target earlier than expected, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approx. 20%, third among benchmark European countries, behind Great Britain and Germany, though performances are worsening; in energy efficiency, it is second behind Great Britain; in the use of renewable energy sources, it ranks first (17.1%) but has stopped investing.Italy’s figures in recycling urban waste (42% in 2014) put it just below the EU-28 average, third of the five major European countries, behind Germany (over 60%) and slightly behind the United Kingdom, and ahead of France and Spain. In 2012, 99 million tons of special waste were recycled in Italy, equal to 76% of waste produced. Compared to the five major European countries, Italy ranks first by far, followed by Germany (69%), France (61%), Spain (52%) and the United Kingdom (49%) and 30 percentage points above the European average (46%).
Italy: a country with tenacity has reached great heights in the green economy but if it stops investing could be downgraded.
An example of renewable energy in Italy. Wind energy is an alternative energy to fossil fuels, abundant, renewable, and in support of a green economy, widely distributed, clean, produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation and requires no excessively high land surface.
-Francesca Procopio
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