- ⏱️ Last update:18/09/2024
The concept of environmental sustainability has only recently become part of our common imagination. It refers to the biophysical condition of the Earth and in particular the use made of resources.
For most of its history, human beings have exploited the earth’s resources without concern for the consequences. Today, the concept of environmental sustainability wants to overturn, to disrupt this modus operandi with a new development model.
The growth of societies and human economies is unstoppable; however, from now on, in order not to suffer the devastating effects of climate change, it will be necessary to grow more responsibly.
But what does it mean to grow responsibly and sustainably? Keep reading our blog to find out!
Table of contents
What is environmental sustainability in short?
Environmental sustainability means the set of actions, goals and programmes to be implemented to keep the earth’s ecosystem (local or global) in balance with human activities.
In recent years, environmental protection practices have evolved from a purely ecological aspect to a socio-economic one concerning consumption control and energy efficiency. Environmental sustainability, in fact, is part of the sustainable development model. In its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the UN’s Agenda 2030 tried to map out a global roadmap for clean energy.
What are the elements of environmental sustainability?
The first two laws of thermodynamics state that existing energy cannot be destroyed but only transformed. With each step, there is a loss of available energy for the future. Based on this assumption, sustainability aims to ensure that the resources available in the world today are respected and used correctly.
What, then, are the features of sustainability or its distinguishing features? Economy, equality and environment respect. One speaks of environmental sustainability when these three elements work in harmony. In other words, protecting the environment also means promoting equality and preserving economic growth.
What are the pillars of environmental sustainability?
The environmental dimension of sustainability, as we said, is an essential component of sustainable development. Every human action has consequences for the ecosystem, and economic growth cannot ignore the health of the planet.
In terms of scalability, the principles of environmental sustainability are applicable at any level: from the backyard to the protection of seas and oceans. The sustainable paradigm is based on three pillars: social sustainability, environmental sustainability and economic sustainability.
The progress of each pillar is conceived in an intrinsically connected manner to that of the others: the development of one of the elements is not possible if there is no improvement in the others as well.
This is why we speak, for example, of a green economy, a concept related to a vision of ecology as a harbinger of business and jobs. In this article, we focus on the environmental dimension of sustainability, the main areas of action and what each of us can do to help the planet.
The main goal of environmental sustainability
The main goal of environmental sustainability is to preserve the resources of planet Earth. This pivotal point, as trivial as it’s important, can be achieved in several ways:
- adopting sustainable and renewable energy sources, i.e. abandoning fossil fuels;
- allowing everyone to have an equal chances (equality);
- respecting ecosystem resources with sustainable communities;
- building sustainable cities, based on environmental and social criteria;
- educating citizens on conscious, informed and above all sustainable consumption.
What are sustainable practices?
Eco-friendly, green-living and eco-sustainable are words that are increasingly used and perhaps abused in every context, from advertising to the marketing of products on the market. But what does eco-friendly really mean? What are sustainable activities and areas of intervention?
Being eco-friendly means being aware of a phenomenon that can save the planet in the present and for the future. Everything that is eco-friendly is not harmful to the environment. An eco-friendly lifestyle takes care of animals, plants and the entire ecosystem.
Being earth-friendly, or friends of the Earth, is only possible if one remembers that we are guests in a world that belongs to everyone and must therefore be respected and preserved for future generations.
The proof of what is happening is before our eyes every day, with the death of fish in their own habitat, the gradual disappearance of crops, and the death of people due to lack of food in developing countries (when people leave their land due to climate change, for example, we speak of climate migrants).
Land and glaciers shrink, flora and fauna change and something must be done now. Even the latest technology and products are damaging the environment, forcing many people to change their way of life, starting with the search for eco-friendly products. Here are some of the easiest eco-friendly practices you can adopt right now:
- car sharing;
- recycling and composting;
- ortho;
- local or 0 km products;
- repair rather than throw away;
- reuse and abolish disposability;
- choose products with low environmental impact and little packaging;
- walking or cycling;
- reduce the use of lights in the home and opt for energy from renewable sources;
- hanging clothes instead of using the dryer;
- use software for environmental technologies that can make procedures and activities more environmentally sustainable.
Today’s consumers want to be informed, which is why companies have started to invest in eco-friendly and eco-friendly products, i.e. to create new eco-friendly and eco-friendly realities.
Not all eco-friendly products, however, are safe for the environment. Checking labels or searching for in-depth information and reviews on the Internet helps to distinguish truly eco-friendly products from those that are harmful to the environment.
Circular economy and environmental sustainability
In an increasingly green world, the health of the planet demands that citizens take the path of energy sustainability and reducing the impact of our lives on the environment. From this scenario arises the so-called circular economy.
The circular economy deals with environmental issues and choices, studying the effects of economic growth on environmental functions. It takes into account the consumer, market efficiency and the price mechanism.
The circular economy is different from the ecological economy, which understands the economy as a subsystem focused on maintaining natural capital. Environmental economists deal with pollution levels, the analysis of environmental legislation and international agreements for the protection of environmental resources and the valuation of non-market goods.
Also known as the environmental economy, the circular economy is a production and consumption model that involves sharing, lending, reusing, repairing, reconditioning and recycling products to extend their life.
Unusable products are then processed and reintroduced into the economic cycle to generate further value. The transition to a circular economy, where everything consumed is not thrown away but recycled, also brings countless benefits:
- reducing the impact on the environment;
- less waste of raw materials;
- boosting innovation and economic growth.
With the circular economy, consumers will always have more durable products that will improve the quality of their lives.
Marine litter
The memorandum of understanding signed in 2020 by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), Eni and Fincantieri focuses on environmental sustainability and the circular economy for the adoption of technological solutions to solve the problem of marine litter, i.e. plastic waste that compromises the marine and coastal ecosystem.
The aim was to promote alternative business models and a more ‘profitable’ relationship with institutions. Fincantieri made the choice of vessels, studied the logistics for the collection, sorting and treatment of waste at sea, and took care of the disposal of non-treatable products.
As envisaged in various industrial plans, a growth model oriented towards sustainability and the circular economy, which can generate a positive socio-economic and environmental impact, is still to be realised.
To create value, growth and financial strength must be combined with social sustainability. The sea will certainly play an increasingly important role in the future; also, for example, in the production of marine energy.
Green finance
Europe has also taken action to develop a more sustainable financial system. The von der Leyen Commission is drafting a document to establish technical criteria for assessing economic activities that contribute to the achievement of EU environmental goals.
Some Member States have already requested the inclusion of nuclear power in ‘green’ investments. To obtain the green label, an economic activity must contribute to at least one of the six statutory environmental objectives:
- mitigation of climate change;
- adaptation to climate change;
- sustainability and protection of water and marine resources;
- transition to the circular economy;
- pollution prevention and control;
- protection of biodiversity and ecosystems.
Environmental sustainability in Italy
The country report deals with the Italian situation regarding structural reforms, prevention and correction of macroeconomic imbalances in the context of the European Green Deal.
Italy has so far performed well in sustainable development, with an 18% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. However, while companies have taken more measures to address environmental issues, a major investment in the circular economy has not yet occurred in households.
The Italian government‘s support for the green economy is progressing and the new initiatives promoted at national level, regarding energy and climate, show a real interest in supporting the green transition.
The new measures aim to encourage companies in green investments with a specific fund and through public guarantees. This will also promote the green economy by fostering decarbonisation, emission reduction, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. To be successful in this mission, a synergy between the third sector and policies is necessary.
Ecological choices in Italy
Italy is the fourth largest producer of greenhouse gases in the European Union and the energy industry is the main contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
The main sources of emissions in Italy are coal-fired power plants and iron and steel production. The objective is to reduce the use of coal in two priority areas, Taranto and Sulcis Iglesiente in Sardinia.
In addition to people’s health, air pollution in Italy also affects vegetation and water. It follows that the decarbonisation of transport is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions quickly.
One solution can be rail freight transport also at international level; ports and airports can play another key role. On the other hand, for the development of sustainable urban mobility there are measures on company cars with the ‘Climate‘ decree of 2019, the national strategic plan for sustainable mobility.
Finally, about municipal waste recycling, there are clear improvements, despite non-compliant landfills and poor waste management in Campania in the recent past. Regarding wastewater treatment and the efficiency of water distribution, we are still lagging.
Only a low percentage of the population is connected to the secondary wastewater treatment network. In fact, many agglomerations did not comply with European regulations for the collection and/or treatment of urban wastewater.
Climate adaptation and risk prevention
Italy is the second most affected country in Europe by hydro-geological disasters, extreme weather phenomena, drought and forest fires. These disasters in the last two decades have resulted in economic losses of around 65 billion euros and more than 20 thousand victims.
Only 5% of the losses were insured, so the state and the victims had to absorb the losses themselves. The EU Commission and environmental associations urge the government for a comprehensive strategy and a national climate adaptation plan to reduce the risk of disasters. Investment in this can go a long way and you? What do you intend to do?
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