What you deny will defeat you

Editorial by Stefano Lavorini

In these first days of summer, the heat is rising steadily, and it is feared that this year has in store phenomena that will force us to refresh the data of the European Earth Observation Programme Copernicus, according to which 2022 was the year with the hottest summer and, in general, the second hottest year on record. To crown it all, the majority of the available scientific evidence suggests that this anomaly is due to increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities.

To deny the facts and responsibility is a bad choice. This is not really the way to solve problems, as denial deprives us of the ability to learn from reality and develop the necessary resources to adapt the way in which we cope with the environment.

When it comes to our little old world, I don't know how many people can still superficially judge the current climate change, which has not yet been categorised in the category of 'normal facts' solely because of the frequency of the phenomena and the devastation caused.

The human race is now acknowledged (alas) to have a poor memory and to never, but really never, learn from history, as evidenced by the Russia-Ukraine conflict that has been going on for over 500 days.

This leads to a series of grotesque combinations, which are likely to push individuals, but also organisations, in the direction of progressive bewilderment, which more often than not results in frustration.

Despite the EU's share of greenhouse gas emissions falling from 15.2 per cent in 1990 to 7.3 per cent in 2019 - in contrast to other countries such as China, the United States and India - the EU still has a long list of initiatives, the results of which are explicitly recognised as failures.

Below are just some insights taken from the European Parliament website: “As industry in Europe struggles to recover from the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the war in Ukraine, the EU is trying to meet its climate commitments, but without causing job losses or triggering relocations. (On the other hand - editor's note) Around 27% of global CO2 emissions from fuel combustion come from internationally traded goods. Emissions from imports into the EU have increased, thwarting climate efforts.”

In other words, it seems as if we are trying to empty the sea with a bucket, which however does not entitle anyone to resignation and laziness, but rather imposes a change of perspective and a more reasoned and comprehensive approach.

Also according to the official website of the European Parliament: “With regard to individual EU member states, the five countries that produced the most greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 were Germany, France, Italy, Poland and Spain. Also according to the 2019 data, the energy sector was responsible for 77.1% of the total emissions, followed by the agricultural sector (10.55%), industry (9.10%), and the waste sector (3.32%).” To this I would add that as early as 2019, Italy's greenhouse gas emissions were comparable to those of Pakistan, lower than those of Turkey and South Africa, as well as half those of Iran (and this still in 2019... according to the report of the Joint Research Centre, JRC).

It is clear that, in spite of the available data, those sectors with the highest visibility among citizens, such as packaging, are often put under the spotlight.

This brings us to November 2022 and the press release 'European Green Deal: Ending Packaging Waste, Promoting Reuse and Recycling', in which the objectives of the PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) are clarified. For months, this has been a hot topic in the industry, alarmed by the ideological and anything but scientific approach advocated in particular by Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal.

Perhaps we need to refresh our minds and start all over again, emphasising the importance of scientific research in order to fully understand climate change and thus build a more responsible and just civil society.

But to achieve this, not even a refreshing drink of (naturally homemade) iced tea is enough!