Ecopolis: a badget

by Letizia Palmisano

Was held at the new Fair of Rome, 1-3 April 2009, the first edition of Ecopolis, the international summit dedicated to the theme of cities, of which we already discussed in the previous post.

The three days saw a team of main conferences and conferences of particular interest.To open Ecopolis Alejandro Gutierrez, designer of Dongtan, first sustainable city in the world - during the conference on the presentation of the Fifth Annual Report on the Urban System sponsored by Agency for the Environment (Italy) - which has urged governments to shift from one economic system production and consumption economy, to a service provider and the service of man, environment and development (sustainable, ndr). According to Gutierrez the current economic crisis and environmental pollution can be tackled by investing today 2% of world GDP in policies for sustainability, as this would allow governments around the world save in the near future by more than 20% of GDP. Mostly attended conferences that have highlighted the progress of the italian regions of Lazio and Puglia. Diamond drills of Lazio Region - according to data released during the conference 'Energy city' - investments on renewables - with over 200 million euros earmarked for the photovoltaic micro-systems families - and the “Casa Ecologica”, the project already in 2008 (with the participation of Sviluppo Lazio and the Italian Ministry of Environment), which shows how efficient a dwelling quarter consumption of energy and emits 20% less CO2 than to a traditional house, with a saving of 3,000 euros a year.

The great strides towards environmental sustainability of the Puglia Region has been described by its President Nichi Vendola and Assessorato: best practices, soil conservation, and renewable sources have been indicated as the new content Regional Landscape Territorial Plan, by way of final approval in 2009.

The meetings were an opportunity to comment on the current Italian legislation. Specifically, on the “plane home”, from many parts as it was claimed to combat the crisis need not build yet, given the thousands of abandoned homes and offices of vacancy, but investing in energy certification and sustainability of existing buildings by one side and the other on public transport.

There was then two interesting competitions of 'sustainable architecture', resulting from the design prototype for future achievable green metropolis on a human. The first was produced by ANCAB / Legacoop and Legambiente, and has won for the feasibility costs and attention to marry the environmental sustainability of the project. The second, 'Substainab.Italy', was presented by the Italian Ministry for Heritage and Cultural Activities for the implementation of sustainable neighborhoods.

Among the visitors a lot of attention in meetings, curiosity and participation among the stands. Many information requests to companies, especially for the installation of solar panels on their homes and where to find products "eco", starting on tap detergents.

Among the institutions stand for the material requested by the citizens was that environmental information and education, especially on the proper disposal of the waste issue after hearing the case of Campania "and announced the alarm in other Italian companies, including Capital with the landfill Malagrotta already over the limit.

Moderate satisfaction for the summit by several companies. Some have considered the event as a showcase for bringing innovations in their fields and to show the feasibility of projects already implemented. But failure is not who has emphasized that the event was less than (their) expectations: companies with fewer participants and number of visitors limited.

Despite events like this allow one point of contact between the government and the business community, asking the representatives of the limits which are solutions and introduce more environmentally friendly products, there has been underlined - as most great difficulty - mistrust of Public Administration on environmental innovations alongside the problems associated with red tape and all those who come often change creates, with projects that remain suspended for months or are canceled. While greater attention has been recorded by professionals from individual citizens and the business itself which increase the need for solutions that are more in harmony with the environment for its area.

Then there is anyone who has ever pointed out that the trade fair - even though she is to offset the emissions of CO2 and in spite of the Fair, with the completion of installation of solar panels on the roof, is one of the largest pole renewable energy in the world - in itself does not reflect an example of eco virtuosity (although of recent construction, ndr) and as a defect of Ecopolis was the lack of a restaurant in line with the event offering products "organic", adjoined the use of disposable biodegradable.