TOWARDS THE STATES GENERAL OF THE GREEN ECONOMY 2024
On 5 and 6 November 2024, the Ecomondo fair in Rimini will host the States General of the green economy, a key event to explore the challenges and opportunities of the ecological transition. This annual event brings together key players from the political and business world to discuss green policies in Europe and around the world.
Together with Raimondo Orsini, director of the Foundation for Sustainable Development – the event organiser – we reviewed the main themes set to feature in this edition. It will take place at a political moment of great significance, including the start of the mandate of the new European Commission, the American and Italian regional elections and the COP on climate in Baku.
THE CENTRAL THEMES OF THE 2024 EDITION
One of the main focuses of this year’s edition will be the European Green Deal, which Orsini defines as “the backbone of a new European industrial leadership” and which will be the main theme of one of the two scheduled plenaries. The States General will focus on how Europe can maintain its leadership in the green sector, addressing key challenges: “The goal will be to understand which sectors our country can grow in,” explains Orsini, who also underlines the need for a more pragmatic approach, beyond political ideologies.
The second plenary session will focus on global decarbonisation, especially in light of the American presidential elections, which this year will be held concurrently with Ecomondo, and the COP on climate in Baku, scheduled for the days immediately following the fair.
These events will be crucial for global climate policies and it will be extremely interesting to be able to make live observations, based on real-time news: “We will probably already know during the States General who will be the next leader of the United States, which will inevitably influence the direction of global climate policies”, explains Orsini.
Attention will then turn to in-depth sessions on topics such as the circular economy, green cities, the “nature positive” economy, water resource management and air quality.
Raimondo Orsini during General States of the Green Economy session at Ecomondo 2023.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITALY
The General States of the Green Economy will open as usual with the presentation of the State of the Green Economy Report, of which Orsini has previewed some highlights.
According to the data, although the Italian green economy excels in sectors such as recycling and agri-food, it is losing ground in crucial areas such as transport and renewable energy where according to Orsini “Italy was a leader in 2011, but in which it has now been overtaken by other countries”. This slowdown raises concerns, as the ecological transition requires significant public investments, which however are not currently a priority on the Italian political agenda. However, Orsini insists that this transition should not be seen merely as an environmental necessity, but as a strategic opportunity for the industrial future of our country.
The States General of the Green Economy 2024 are therefore a decisive moment to chart a clear and solid path towards global green leadership. The debate will focus on pragmatic policies, involving institutions and businesses to outline a sustainable strategy for Italy and Europe. “Our goal in Rimini will be to make Italian industrialists understand that the Clean Industrial Pact of the European Green Deal is an opportunity for economic and employment development”, concludes Orsini.
A LIFEGATE article