Environmental Transition: Italy must accelerate

SEIF 23 began on Friday 30 June with opening remarks, moderated by Rossella Muroni (SEIF Scientific Director), from Fabio Murzi (Chairman of Acqua dell'Elba Foundation) and Norman Larocca (Director of Acqua dell'Elba Foundation), who emphasised the need for interaction between different partners and stakeholders to protect and promote the sea and its future from all points of view. There were also addresses from Pietro Gentili (Elba Youth Forum), Giampiero Sammuri (President of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago), Santo Altavilla (Harbour Master of the Port of Portoferraio), Niccolò Censi (Coordinator of GAT - the associated management service for tourism on Elba), and the mayors of Elba's municipalities.

Following this, the Environmental Transition was the focus of the first workshop, "Cambia il clima, cambia il mare", moderated by journalist and writer Giacomo Talignani, which discussed the challenges that must be overcome to make our seas clean and healthy. These challenges include pollution, the overexploitation of resources, loss of biodiversity, the acidification of the sea and the increase in plastic waste. There is still lots to be done to achieve Goal 14 of the 2030 Agenda ("conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development") and bring about real change: according to the data, by 2050 sea levels will rise by 30 cm, regardless of how much we reduce global carbon emissions, and will continue to rise until 2100, even exceeding 60 cm. This is why it is so important that we accelerate, starting with the funds made available by the NRRP, strengthening the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan and supporting the proposed EU regulation for the restoration of ecosystems and biodiversity. Not forgetting awareness-raising activities, starting with young children, with experiences in the field, particularly on the issue of microplastics. The appeal was launched by Maria Siclari (General Manager of Ispra), Alfredo Reder (CMCC Foundation), Enrico Giovannini (Scientific Director of Asvis), Johanna Wiedling and Roman Lehner (Sail&Explore).