Green conomy in the Alps Sixth Report on the State of the Alps Luca Cetara, Maria Teresa Idone EURAC research, Unicam, Italian Delega ion to the Alpine Convention Workshop «Piano d Azione sulla Green Economy nelle Alpi» Gorizia (I), 29/11/2017
The Alpine Convention and the Reports on the state of the Alps Writing RSA 6 Definition of reen conomy Main topics of the Report and brief overview of results Focus on the Italian Alps Conclusions and recommendations
The Alpine Convention International treaty for the sustainable development of the Alps
Six Reports on the state of the Alps
History and milestones of RSA 6 Thematic proposal: 13 th Alpine Conference in Torino (I) (COP13) Elaboration: ad hoc expert group with international experts German Presidency (Environment Agency / Umweltbundesamt) Green Economy definition and Alpine specificities Good practices Declaration Grassau, Ottobre of 14 th Alpine 2016 Conference on Sustainable Economy Data collection and analysis Conclusions & Recommendations Grassau (DE), Oct. 2016
Green conomy: definition
What is a Green conomy? [economy] that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a reen conomy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive. (UNEP 2011)
Alpine specificities Topographic and climate conditions Special distribution of population Contrasting demographic trends Delicate Ecosystems Soil / Land scarcity and use
Main topics of RSA6 Energy efficient and low carbon economy Resource efficient economy Ecosystem services and natural capitalbased economy Economy increasing well-being and quality of life
Energy efficient and low carbon economy
CO 2 emissions in Alpine countries Energy efficient and low CO2 emissions economy Fonte: RSA 6, dati riferiti non solo all area alpina
Towards a low CO2 emission Alpine region Energy efficient and low CO2 emissions economy Alpine countries on a good track to achieving EU 2020 targets (13-20%); EU 2040 targets remain a challenge Alps are particularly vulnerable to climate change, thus they need mitigation but also adaptation to climate change Tourism and agriculture are responsible and exposed to stronger impacts Climate change can trigger eco-innovation in specific sectors in the Alps Strong potential for renewable energy sources development across all the region
Reduction of CO2 emissions in the tourist sector Energy efficient and low CO2 emissions economy Germany Initiative "Climate Protection and Energy Efficiency in the Hotel and Restaurant Industry Workshop in Oberschleißheim (DE), 2016 Publication Follow-up
Energy efficient and low CO2 emissions economy Energy production and consumption, and balance, Italian Alpine regions (GWh, 2014) 70,000 Energy Production Energy Demand 50,000 Energy deficit / superi 30,000 10,000-10,000-30,000 Fonte: Cetara et al. 2017
Energy efficient and low CO2 emissions economy 115 Energy intensity Italian Alpine regions (2010-2014) 110 105 100 95 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Piemonte Valle d'aosta Liguria Lombardia Trentino Alto Adige Veneto Friuli Venezia-Giulia ALPS Fonte: Cetara et al. 2017
Energy efficient and low CO2 emissions economy Share of energy consumption covered by renewable energy sources in the Italian Alpine regions (Istat 2014) 310.4 300 250 225.5 200 150 131.6 100 50 41.6 9.3 24.3 25.9 27.5 0 Piemonte Valle d'aosta/vallée d'aoste Liguria Lombardia Bolzano/Bozen Trento Veneto Friuli-Venezia Giulia Fonte: Cetara et al. 2017
Resource - efficient economy
Resource efficient economy Resource-efficiency means More output using same resources / input Reduction of total use of resources Circular Economy Between 2004-2015 all Alpine countries have increased their resource-productivity (Slovenia & Italy by more than 50%)
Land: a scarce resource in the Alps Resource efficient economy
Resource efficient economy 650 Municipal solid waste p.c. in the Italian Alps, regional data (2010-2014, ISPRA 2015) 600 550 500 450 400 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Piemonte Lombardia Friuli Venezia Giulia Liguria Veneto Figures Italian Alpine Regions (average values) Fonte: Cetara et al. 2017
Resource efficient economy Total and Sorted Waste in the Italian Alps, regional data (2010-2014, ISPRA 2015) 12,000,000 10,000,000 8,000,000 6,000,000 4,000,000 2,000,000 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 TUW SUW Fonte: Cetara et al. 2017
Ecosystem services and natural capital-based economy
Rich in natural capital, the Alps supply essential ecosystem services to a much wider region
HNV (high nature value) farming and biodiversity Sustainable Use of Natural Capital: agriculture & biodiversity
Ecosystem services and natural capital-based economy Fonte: RSA 6, 2017
Ecosystem services and natural capital-based economy Forest land and increment, Italian Alpine Regions (2004-2014) Thousands ha 12,000 10,000 Forested land (INFC 1985) Forest land (INFC 2005) Forest land (INFC 2015, provv.) Increase forest land 2005-2015 7% 6% 8,000 5% 4% 6,000 3% 4,000 2% 2,000 1% - 0% Fonte: Cetara et al. 2017
Ecosystem services and natural capital-based economy Forest carbon sinks in the Italian Alpine Regions (tco2e, figures for above-ground biomass, INFC 2005-2015) Piemonte Lombardia Veneto Trentino Liguria Alto Adige / Südtirol Friulii Venezia Giulia Valle d'aosta - 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 Millions Estimated tco2e (INFC 2015) tco2e (INFC 2005) Fonte: Cetara et al. 2017
Ecosystem services and natural capital-based economy MONETARY VALUE OF ABOVE GROUND BIOMASS CARBON SINKS IN THE ITALIAN ALPS, BY REGION (INFC 2005 AND INFC 2015, CO2 MKT PRICE: 6.65) Carbon sink value (INFC 2005) 105 556.62 673.14 422.99 720.07 622.38 834.70 1,067.38 5,001.8 M Carbon sink value (INFC 2015) 119 628.24 757.55 495.85 786.81 728.32 914.79 1,170.96 5,601.2 M - 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 Valle d'aosta Friulii Venezia Giulia Alto Adige / Südtirol Liguria Trentino Veneto Lombardia Piemonte MILLIONS Fonte: Cetara et al. 2017
Economy increasing well-being and quality of life
The social dimension of a Green Economy Economy improving Quality of Life and wellbeing Sustainable onsumer ehavior Health Green obs and training
Economy improving Quality of Life and wellbeing Fonte: RSA 2017
Economy improving Quality of Life and wellbeing Number of Food Quality Products from parks in the Italian Alpine Regions* Liguria, 92 Friulia Venezia Giulia, 22 Piemonte, 188 Veneto, 93 Valle d'aosta, 8 Trentino Alto Adige, 21 Lombardia, 99 *Quality labels considered in the analysis include: PDO, PGI, TSG, PAT, DOCG, DOC, IGT, BIO, Slow Food Presidia Fonte: RSA 2017
Economy improving Quality of Life and wellbeing Fonte: RSA 2017
Economy improving Quality of Life and wellbeing Fonte: Cetara et al. e RSA 2017
Conclusions for the Alps -Green conomy has to be an engine for regional development -Climate change challenges can and shall trigger eco-innovation -Ecosystems and biodiversity are assets for the Alpine region -Measures are still needed to drive the change towards a more resource-efficient regional economy -Green conomy has to be a source for competitiveness for the Alpine region on global markets in future policies and decisions -New financial measures and instruments have to be introduced and tested in the Alpine region especially to steer a sustainable growth for SMEs and innovative industries -Continue to improve the quality of life and well-being of people living and visiting the Alps is a strategic priority for a full achievement of the Green conomy concept (social dimension)
Conclusions for the Italian Alps -Often the performances of the analysed indicators are at least aligned with EU standards -Tend to perform better than other Italian zones under different dimensions -Show a relatively high level of Quality of Life in Italy -Can show even marked differences between regions in observed trends for the different analysed indicators -Provide insights on which new strategies, policies and private decisions (!) can be made
Grazie! luca.cetara@eurac.edu mariateresa.idone@unicam.it