Stop nuclear power and fossil fuels. Yes to renewables, to efficiency, to the development of networks and storage, to national supply chains for the supply of critical raw materials from WEEE, to the ban, through international action, of polluting substances such as PFAS, to more areas protected by 2030 for the protection of biodiversity and the restoration of the naturalness of the territory. Legambiente is asking for it, on the eve of the G7 climate, environment and energy meeting scheduled in Turin and on the day of the 38th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disastersends a clear message to the Minister of the Environment Gilberto Pichetto Fratin by indicating six priorities on which Italy, which “leads” the summit, can and must set an example by avoiding giving in to the nuclear and fossil fuel lobbies. If we want to combat the climate crisis and speed up the decarbonisation process, clear and coherent choices are needed, also in line with the commitments made at the latest COP28 on the climate. For this reason, for the environmentalist association, among the first priorities on which Italy must work are: the no to nuclear power and the proposal for an immediately operational international plan for the remodulation and cancellation of environmentally harmful subsidies by 2030, also inviting other countries to do the same.
“The world – he comments Stefano Ciafani national president of Legambiente – don’t forget the tragedy of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster which 38 years ago caused death and destruction with effects that still last today. The future of the Planet and the ecological and energy transition, which must be done immediately and well, cannot pass through the atom, not even through small modular reactors. The route is the cheapest and fastest one traced from renewables, from efficiency, from innovation, from the circular economy, from courageous national and international climate policies, starting from the gradual decommissioning of fossil fuels and putting the environment, health and work at the centre. Three important pillars on which the decarbonisation process of each country must rest. Italy and the rest of the world do not miss this important challenge. We ask the Meloni Government to abandon the path of fossil fuels and transform the country into the main European renewables hub. For a world free from the dictatorship and dependence of fossil fuels and to combat the climate crisis, an international synergy is needed that is based on a distributed and innovative energy system based on “fossil free” plants. For this reason we hope that in this G7 Environment Italy will use common sense and responsibility as Germany is already doing, which closed its last nuclear power plants in 2023, is working on a plan to exit coal and then gas and has sets the goal of producing 100% electricity from renewable sources by 2035”.
Six Priorities: No to nuclear power.
For the environmentalist association it is senseless for us to return to talking about nuclear power again by placing it among the points on the agenda of the G7 climate, environment and energy. We are talking about an unsafe technology, which has not solved the problem of radioactive waste and disposal, without forgetting the risk of accidents. Italy itself still finds itself having to dispose of the old waste from its previous nuclear legacy, still having to create the single repository for the definitive disposal of medium and low level waste and combating the illicit trafficking of radioactive waste.
Stop fossil fuels
Let Italy do its part immediately by starting the phasing-out of fossil fuels and the cancellation and remodulation of environmentally harmful subsidies by 2030, and also inviting other countries to do the same. In 2022, according to the Legambiente report “Stop subsidies for fossil fuels”, environmentally harmful subsidies were more than doubled, reaching 94.8 billion with the decrees for the bill emergency caused by gas speculation; while renewables are stuck on paper with almost 1,400 projects under evaluation at MASE and delayed due to lack of simplifications.
Yes to renewables
The future of the planet passes through renewables and energy efficiency, but to accelerate the development of clean sources and the construction of large plants it is essential to simplify, speed up and streamline the authorization processes which to date, especially in Italy, are too slow and which together with many other obstacles, such as the chronic conflict between ministries or the delay of the regions in issuing the final authorizations for the plants, slow down its diffusion. As of January 2024, there are 1376 projects still in the evaluation phase, a figure that gives the idea of great excitement on the part of companies, but which is not currently reflected in the authorizations issued, given the slowness linked to the procedures. Italy needs investment plans and simplification of authorization processes with the objective of 91% coverage of renewable sources in the electricity sector by 2030 and 100% by 2035. Without forgetting the urgent policy of building redevelopment existing, to help families and businesses.
National supply chains for the supply of critical raw materials from WEEE
Yes to national supply chains for the supply of critical raw materials from WEEE to avoid having an environmental impact on those territories that have them or which are currently the final terminal for disposal, and at the same time avoiding fueling dangerous future “dependencies” between States, such as occurred for fossil fuels. At the same time, it will be important to guarantee respect for the environmental and social rights of communities in poor countries exporting critical materials. On the circular economy front, Italy must also implement a national plan for production innovation and the circular economy.
Ban on polluting substances
Act synergistically, both at a national and international level, on the banning of those polluting substances, starting from Pfas – the perfluoroalkyl substances defined as forever chemicals – which are devastating not only surface and groundwater across the continent , but also the environmental matrices soil and air. In particular, in Italy, PFAS pollution is a chronic emergency still unresolved between delays and responsibilities to the detriment of the environment and citizens’ health.
Greater protection of biodiversity
Italy must accelerate the pace by protecting at least 30% of land and sea by 2030, immediately establishing the over 70 terrestrial and marine protected areas planned but still stalled, and completing all the procedures required by the habitat directive for the Nature network 2000 also to overcome the various European infringement procedures that affect our country. Adopt nature-based solutions and respect the DNSH (Do No Significant Harm) principle for all project interventions in naturalistic areas, encourage the approval of the European law on nature restoration and adopt the measures necessary to protect the high seas. Furthermore, for Legambiente it is essential to establish adaptation and mitigation strategies for climate change by directing national and European economic resources in this direction (starting from community funds).
