*NB. some typos were reported in the printing of the report. Here is the correct information:
– CAPRI : Soil consumption 29,2%
– ISLAND OF GIGLIO: On the purification the graphics are to be interpreted as “data not available”
– ISCHIA: Soil consumption 33,8, Urban waste per capita 625 kg/inhabitant/year
– EGADI ISLANDS: data on the type of treatment for water purification is not available
– SALINA: The data on purification are "not available", the figure on separate waste collection is equal to 41%. The installations of photovoltaic systems are equal to 250 kW
– SANT'ANTIOCO: figure for Soil consumption: 5,6%
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Sustainable Islands Observatory 2023 - "The ecological transition in the smaller islands"
Presented the data of the V report by CNR-IIA and Legambiente
Calculated for the first time the sustainability index of the islands focused on land consumption, waste, water, energy, protected areas, mobility and building regulations
There is still a lot to do, being the average index of the islands stopped at 40%: among the most virtuous islands in the path of sustainability the Tremiti, the Egadi, the Aeolian and Capraia which stand at around 50%
Further back, La Maddalena, Elba and Ischia, cthey still don't arrive to 30%
“We need a decisive change of pace on the sustainability front. Seven objectives to be achieved, four practical actions to implement
Despite some timid steps forward, in Italy on the smaller islands full sustainability is still a distant goal. There are many delays to fill, many goals to achieve with respect to waste management, zero-emission mobility, the water cycle, of energy from renewable sources and the fight against soil consumption. to speak clear the data of the fifth report "Sustainable Islands Observatory - The challenges of the ecological transition in the smaller islands” edited by the Observatory on the smaller islands of Legambiente and CNR-IIA: on 27 small inhabited maritime islands examined in Italy[1], the average sustainability index – calculated for the first time by the Observatory – is equal to 40%.
Looking at the individual islands, among those most advanced in the path of sustainability are the Tremiti Islands with an index of 53%, followed by the Egadi Islands (Favignana, Marettimo, Levanzo), the Aeolian Islands (Lipari, Vulcano, Stromboli, Panarea, Filicudi and Alicudi), the Pelagie Islands (Lampedusa and Linosa) which reach 49%, and the island of Capraia which stands at 47%. A sign that the focus is on territorial policies capable of combining environmental sustainability, innovation and attention to the territory.
However, La Maddalena lags behind, with an index equal to 21%, the Island of Elba (26%) and Ischia (29%). The latter islands that have to speed up the pace to recover the ground compared to the sisters more virtuous.
The photograph taken by the Sustainable Islands Observatory indicates, in summary, those sectors of intervention on which we need to work and accelerate the pace because the country's ecological transition also passes through these territories.
According to Legambiente and CNR-IIA, there are seven objectives that the smaller islands must set themselves:
- governance goal (with coordination between islands and ministries);
- adaptation goal (aiming for zero soil consumption);
- mitigation goal (aiming to have 100% sustainable islands by 2050);
- 4R lens (for a sustainable waste management model and promoting resource reuse policies, plastic free and information campaigns);
- goal of zero losses (making the water network more efficient and increasing the recovery of rain and gray water;
- zero pollution goal (improving the purification systems, even in seasons with a high tourist rate)
- zero-emission sustainable mobility goal by 2050 (promoting sharing mobility systems, pedestrian zones and restrictions on the most polluting cars)
To achieve these goals, CNR-IIA and Legambiente have identified four practical actions to implement. In particular it is necessary:
1) set up a Single control room at the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security to improve and support the governance of the territories in such a delicate phase as the one we are experiencing.
2) edit i Sustainable Development Plans to 2030 for the Minor Islands to achieve the identified objectives;
3) create a single coordination on the management of PNRR funds, to make the best and most effective use of the opportunities that the Plan offers;
4) empower the role of the ANCIM Association to further increase its coordination role between the smaller islands and the Central Government.
The report on sustainable islands 2023, now in its fifth edition and edited byCNR Institute on Atmospheric Pollution together with Legambiente, was presented today at a press conference in Rome and saw public administrations, companies, associations of the third sector and the academic world discuss problems, opportunities, barriers and tools of the smaller islands, in order to arrive at defining virtuous paths together from the point of view of the sustainability of the island territories. Today's event, which has Renexia as a partner, was also included in the celebrations for the centenary of the CNR.
“This year the Sustainable Islands 2023 report – he explains Giorgio Zampetti, general manager of Legambiente – it has set itself the objective of attempting to "quantify" the efforts made by the administrations and the current state of sustainability of each island through the sustainability index. The values are not fully satisfactory, alongside the strengths many weaknesses have emerged. Some islands are on track, others are still too far behind. Therefore, we need a change of pace through ambitious goals and effective actions. The proposals of the Smaller Islands Observatory go in this direction and through the sustainability index tool we want to encourage local administrations, but also other stakeholders, to speed up some consolidated paths on the one hand, and invest in innovation and ambitious policies from above".
“The islands are havens of biodiversity – he comments Francesco Petracchini, Director of the CNR-IIA – unique but at the same time fragile ecosystems and stressed by tourist flows condensed in the summer periods. The CNR, leader of the national center for biodiversity, is at the forefront in the study of similar contexts and in the search for solutions to the problems that still persist. From this point of view, the islands present themselves as ideal laboratories for the development of innovative ideas in the direction of the ecological transition and the increase in the protection of their territories. Furthermore, from this point of view, the PNRR green islands funds are a unique opportunity to be seized in the coming years to implement virtuous projects along the path towards sustainability”.
Data on individual topics: Compared to the individual issues that make up the overall sustainability index, the different speeds of the islands emerge. On the one hand, the good performance of collection of the islands of San Pietro and Sant'Antioco which reached respectively 84% and 82% of RD, with a per capita rate of waste produced less than 600 kg inhabitant/year, followed by the Egadi islands (RD 80% and per capita waste produced below 750 kb/inhabitant/y) and Pantelleria (RD 78%, 578 kg/inhabitant/y). Back in separate collection Ponza, Lampedusa and Giglio, which respectively have a RD of 9%, 20% and 30%, with a per capita waste production of 835 kg/inhabitant/y, 1.158 kg/inhabitant/a and 1.043 kg /ab/a.
In terms of network losses the Tremiti islands register the lowest rate (9%), followed by Lampedusa (17%), Giglio island (25%), Ischia and Procida (respectively 26% and 27%). The highest water dispersion is recorded in Ponza (68%), Maddalena (62%), Sant'Antioco and Elba (58% and 54%), and San Pietro (52%). On the side of mobility, the lowest motorisation rate is found in Capri (31 cars for every 100 inhabitants), followed by Procida (46/100), Ponza and Ventotene (both with 51 cars for every 100 inhabitants). Back instead the Egadi and Pantelleria islands (respectively 94 cars every 100 inhabitants and 90 cars/100pop.), Capraia and Elba (73cars/100pop and 72cars/100pop), Salina (71cars/100pop). The newest car fleet belongs to the island of Elba and San Pietro with 49% of cars having an emission class equal to or higher than Euro5. Major installations of photovoltaic in absolute terms they are found in Ischia, Elba, Sant'Antioco, San Pietro and the Egadi which alone account for about 73% of installed power.
Focus on climate crisis and soil consumption: iFinally, the report also contains an insight into the impacts that the climate crisis is having on the smaller islands. According to Legambiente's CittàClima Observatory (available on www.cittaclima.it), from 2010 to today (data updated to 22 May) 14 extreme climatic events have been recorded on the smaller islands, of which 5 floods and floods from heavy rains, 3 damage from storm surges, 2 landslides from heavy rains and one case each for damage from tornadoes, damage to infrastructure, prolonged drought and damage from severe hailstorms. The cost in terms of human lives should also be underlined with 14 victims, 12 linked to the Casamicciola tragedy, in Ischia in 2022, and 2 to the Pantelleria whirlwind. This is why it is essential to focus on adaptation policies and mitigation actions of climate-changing emissions.
As far as land consumption is concerned, the ISPRA data show, for example, an acceleration to a loss of agricultural area equal to 2,6%.
For this, second CNR-IIA e Legambiente, it is important that the territorial planning and control systems aimed at combating unauthorized use and promoting efficient use of the land are reviewed and integrated, through the recovery of already urbanized areas, the protection and enhancement of valuable agricultural areas and the fundamental protection of natural resources, passing through the necessary involvement of local communities.
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[1] With the exception of Isola Gorgona (in the municipality of Livorno) and Isola Palmari, (in the municipality of Portovenere) due to their very small population and the unavailability of specific data on the islands.