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Sep 02 2010 - 15:00

Palazzo della Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio

Green economy. An idea for the future to tackle the crisis

Ermete Realacci

Ermete Realacci, head of Green Economy for the PD.

The meeting is introduced by Zenone Sovilla, journalist of the newspaper L'Adige.

Can the type of current crisis that has hit the global economy, with its repercussions in Europe and in our country—one of which being high unemployment—also present an opportunity? Is it time to critically ask ourselves again, "what should we produce"? The much-cited solar panel or the long-desired electric car represent only the tip of the iceberg of new potential commercial opportunities and the expansion of research and technological innovation. Some European countries, such as Germany and Spain, are investing heavily in the industry linked to so-called renewable energies, with excellent results. Italy too would have good potential, but it needs to make precise choices.

Elected to Parliament for the first time in 2001, re-elected on the Ulivo lists in 2006, and confirmed in the current Legislature on the Democratic Party lists. He is currently a member of the Democratic Party's Directorate and the PD's Green Economy Chief. From the early years, he has led Legambiente, of which he is still honorary president. He has fought many battles over the years: from defending the environment understood as a blend of nature, culture, social cohesion, creativity, and a strength of Italy's most precious resources, to defending agricultural production, to initiatives aimed at freeing cities from pollution, traffic, and illegal building, and fighting eco-mafias. He promotes and chairs Symbola-Foundation for Italian Quality and is vice-president of the Kyoto Club, the network of institutions and companies committed to reducing greenhouse gases.