ENERGY
Towards technological neutrality
concept of technological neutrality that Italy has been promoting in Europe for some time now. This principle establishes the need to exploit all the technologies that allow for energy production without emitting greenhouse gases to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement – and it is inspiring Italy’s presidency of the G7. This commitment includes tripling the installation of renewable energy plants by overcoming bureaucratic and legislative obstacles, and thus doubling energy efficiency. It also reopens a debate that until recently was taboo in both national and international public opinion regarding new nuclear technologies: small nuclear reactors and nuclear fusion. At the same time, in a pragmatic manner, the Italian presidency reaffirms the need to support this path by maintaining the use of natural gas in those hard-to-abate applications, while promoting research and development of carbon capture technologies such as the Callisto project in Ravenna. The ministerial meeting of environment and energy ministers in Turin in April addressed these critical issues, which will also be summarised in the final statement issued by the G7 leaders in Apulia. A PRAGMATIC APPROACH In other words, Italy – satisfied with the recognition of the principle of technological neutrality, which it
For some time now, Italy has been promoting technological neutrality in Europe, and it is inspiring Italy’s presidency of the G7, with commitments to double energy efficiency
T he 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai marked a new step along the path of combating climate change, which many have identified as the historic text in the Outcome of the First Global Stocktake: “Transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade, so as to achieve net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science”. From my point of view, there is an equally fundamental turning point right after that in the very next paragraph: “Accelerating zero- and low-emission technologies, including, inter alia, renewables, nuclear, abatement and removal technologies such as carbon capture and utilization and storage, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors, and low-carbon hydrogen production”. This statement represents the best expression of the
By Francesco Corvaro, Italy’s special envoy on climate change
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G7 ITALY: THE APULIA SUMMIT — 2024
globalgovernanceproject.org
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