The University of Camerino and the European Academy of Bolzano/Bozen – Eurac Research, in collaboration with the Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea – Italian Delegation to the Alpine Convention, invited Universities, public institutions and private companies in a conversation on the topic of green economy in the Apennine region.
How to instill the features of green economy in complex areas? How to enhance the characteristics and assets of mountain areas through a sustainable economic development approach?
The Conference collected green economy-related methods and experiences to try to answer these questions, reflecting on shared priorities and on the opportunities offered by different territories to stakeholders and sectors involved in innovation at large (e.g. energy, agri-food industries, manufacturing, tourism, no-profit). The goal is to take stock on a model for instilling green economy and fostering its development in complex areas. In particular, the aim is to create the foundations of a framework for a green development strategy in the Apennine region. The strategy should be coherent with local and global demands, integrated within institutional actions by public bodies and in line with international goals requiring a greening of the economic system in order to be met (e.g. mitigation and adaptation to environmental climate change, reduction of land consumption, shifting of production towards green and organic sectors, biodiversity protection, etc.). The Conference was also an occasion for the dissemination of the Sixth Report on the State of the Alps (RSA 6), coordinated by the German Presidency of the Alpine Convention and published in 2017 by the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention. The Conference explored the possibility to share the ongoing experience of the Alps and the methods adopted for the Report with the Apennines.
MAIN TOPICS
The reports revolved around the following three main topics, each one being addressed in a parallel working session:
- Green economy and natural resources management
This session gathered and presented new models for a sustainable use of those natural resources that generate economic value (e.g. land use, forestry, water management). Participants assessed the possibilities brought in by the models under discussion in terms of eco-innovation for businesses and public administrations in the Apennines. Moreover, special attention was paid to the valuation and enhancement of ecosystem services of economic relevance (e.g. agri-food chains, waste management and recycling, water supply), to climate change mitigation and/or adaptation, and to the initiatives of mitigation of the unbalances related to biodiversity and protected species. A discussion eventually investigated how a “circular economy” can help the transition to energy from renewable sources and bring to the reduction of waste.
- Green economy and public policies
This session addressed the role that public actors, at different administrative levels, can have in building the conditions for a “green” market, able to generate innovation keeping alive the local traditions. The Apennines are a fundamental part of the European mountain system and can play a chairing role in the green economy development also by adopting innovative policy schemes. The participants presented governance models for sustainable supply chains, explored the possibilities offered to green policy design by national and international funds (e.g., the Inner Areas National Fund, Mountain Areas Law, and other European Funding Programmes) and from a “green fiscal reform”. The session also addressed the potential of towns in the region to become smart cities and host digital infrastructures.
- Green economy, finance, jobs and business
In this session, the key topic was be the role of private companies, both traditional and innovative, for experimenting sustainable business models in the green economy key-sectors in the Apennines (e.g. tourism, building and construction, agri-food). Actions aimed to enhance innovation in business as performed by private companies, industrial associations, public administrations and research institutions were presented together with initiatives aimed at supporting green jobs. A special attention went to the energy sector, to the provision of access to credit for SMEs, to the role played by banks and private financial institutions, as well as by European Financial Programmes and Organisations for the private sector and territorial institutions (e.g. green bonds emissions, etc.).
ROUNDTABLE
Green Economy opportunities within policy formulation and implementation for the post-earthquake reconstruction.
The Conference promoted a sound debate between science and policymakers on the link between green economy and post-earthquake reconstruction in Central Italy, within a roundtable coordinated by the University of Camerino. UNICAM has been playing a primary role in providing scientific support to national, regional and local decision makers since the beginning of the reconstruction plan launched in Italy at different levels. Public administrations, national and local governmental authorities, research institutions, associations and the private sector discussed on how the reconstruction of central Italian towns, hit by recent seismic events, could be an opportunity for the introduction of a green economy model of development in the Apennine region.
CALL FOR GOOD PRACTICES
The collection on good practices opened in the context of the Conference continues. The Call for good practices looks for initiatives and case studies, also linked to scientific and academic research. The national and international good practices must refer to public, private or mixed initiatives that have a clear link to the sustainable economic development of mountain areas.
A Scientific Committee will select the practices that especially highlight significant and innovative contributions in environmental, economic and social terms with respect to the following key-topics for a green economy framework:
- energy-efficient and low carbon economy
- resource-efficient economy (e.g. water, forests, land)
- ecosystem services and natural capital-based economy
- an economy supporting quality of life and well-being
In order to submit a good practice, please fill in the attached FORM in all its sections and send it by email to info@greeneconomy-ccapp.it. The selection committee will give a feedback, indicating any suggestions. The authors of the accepted good practices will be invited to create a poster, according to a template already prepared, which will be included among the good practices of this section of the site.
SELECTION COMMITTEE
Paolo Angelini – Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, Head of Italian delegation at Alpine Convention
Antonio Ballarin Denti – President of the scientific committee for Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente
Luca Cetara – Eurac Research
Serena D’Ambrogi – ISPRA (Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research)
Marcello Petitta – ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development)
Massimo Sargolini – Università di Camerino
The organisation secretariat is available to provide support in filling the form for the good practices collection.
For further information please contact info@greeneconomy-ccapp.it.
