States General of the Green Economy 2014

The growth of companies of the green economy: the main way out of the Italian crisis. This was the leitmotif around which experts, politicians and industrialists reasoned at the event hosted by Ecomondo Rimini last November.

Here in a nutshell we report the conclusions the operators reached on the basis of economic, legal and fiscal assessments, with recommendations on actions to be incentivated to achieve significant and evermore sustainable results, not only in favour of companies, but of the entire population.
 
1. Promote and implement measures to enhance the quality of Italian concerns and develop eco-innovation
How to develop eco-innovation:
- directing and enhancing the use of EU funds for eco-innovation;
- selecting tax exemptions and incentives based on the effectiveness of the eco-innovation results;
- developing partnerships between universities, research institutions, businesses and local governments;
- supporting eco-innovative start-ups; strengthening research, training, skills and expertise to prepare for eco-innovation, ensuring greater information on best available technologies; supporting the distribution of eco-innovative technologies and products.
 
2. Counter the climate crisis by developing energy efficiency and renewables
Italy, particularly exposed to the impacts of climate change, must continue to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases starting from energy efficiency, given that the tax deductions of 55% have produced 2.8 billion euros of investment, of which 1.6 billion deducted, with annual savings of 1,200 GWh/year and 268 ktCO2 in 2012. A study of 2013 (Enel Foundation and Milan Polytechnic) has estimated potential savings in final consumption in 2020 at 25 Mtep, with 72 MtCO2eq of emissions avoided, an annual turnover of €64 billion and 460,000 jobs created.
The development of renewable energy sources (electrical, thermal and biofuels now cover 13.5% of Italy’s energy needs and their uses is growing rapidly) has generated significant benefits for the country. Despite this, in recent times the area has been subject to adverse legislative actions, that have underestimated, if not altogether ignored the said benefits.
 
3. Develop measures for sustainable mobility
Reduction of obsolete and pollutant cars, with a lesser resorting to the private car and increase in intermodal use (car-sharing and car pooling). Extension of advanced models of city logistics (with city ports, urban distribution centers), leading to the rationalisation of the distribution of goods and the lowering of congestion and emissions costs.

4. Develop waste recycling
From 2008 to 2012, companies that performed at least one waste recovery activity increased by 12%, their staff by 19%. Waste recycling is a key tool for the efficient use of resources. The increase of segregated collection and recycling would entail the reduction of public waste bills from the 215.31 euro per inhabitant per year of 2013 (for a municipality between 50,000 and 150,000 inhabitants with a segregated collection of less than 40%) to € 148.6 per inhabitant per year if segregated collection is brought to 60% (-31% of lesser segregated collection). We need to focus on higher levels of segregated collection and recycling throughout the country.
According to a recent European document with 70% recycling and municipal waste sent to landfills reduced to 5%, Italy would create 30,000 new jobs and would also save nearly 4 billion euros in municipal waste management costs, generating environmental benefits estimated at around 3 billion.
 
5. Investment and speedy use of guaranteed and adequate resources to prevent and reduce the risks and costs of floods and landslides and to improve land management, green infrastructures and urban quality
A budget of 2 billion euros a year for twenty years is required to achieve the 11,000 interventions already identified by PAI, to a total cost of 40 billion. The undertakings funded using 2.1 billions, only 50% started or finished, need to be completed, along with those with the Regions already earmarked as priority costing a further 4.5 billion.
In recent decades an average of 1.5 billion euros per year has been spent for damages from emergencies. Due to the climate crisis, the risks are worsening. The bill to stop land use should be improved and approved, preventing new building activity in areas at risk and the demolishing buildings that cannot be made secure and that constitute a liability.
The resources allocated in accrual account by the State for the primary expenditure for environmental protection and the use and management of natural resources fell from 2.4 billion euros in 2010 to 1.6 billion in 2014 (0.37% of the state budget), meaning a reduction of some 33%. This will not do. Virtuous environmental funding should be increased. This is in no way a waste, but an investment needed to prevent damage and higher costs, to protect the environment and improve development.
 
6. In the year of EXPO a new impetus should be given to the development of ecological quality Italian agriculture.
Supporting and promoting quality urban and periurban agriculture can offer a good profitability also with direct sales and with a short chain supply to shops, schools and hospitals. It can also serve as a green infrastructure that improves the quality of the area and ensures services and likewise cultural, recreational and educational activities. The employment of young people in farming and eco-related activities of agri-tourism and agro-energy should be encouraged via appropriate tax incentives and contributions. Private initiatives aimed at enhancing the multifunctional dimension of agriculture, as a means of supervision, maintenance and protection of the territory should be encouraged, here too using the instrument of tax deduction.