Ecological transition: definition, meaning and implementation

To better understand what is meant by ecological transition, it is possible to refer to the Ecological Transition Plan (PTE), the document prepared at the national level by the competent Ministry, consistent with the European Green Deal, which directs Italy toward sustainable development and ecological management. The ecological transition, according to the PTE, is achieved through multiple directions: decarbonization, with increased energy production from renewable sources, sustainable mobility, improvement of air quality, protection and strengthening of biodiversity, protection of the sea, combating land consumption and hydrogeological disruption, including the strengthening of water supply infrastructure, sewers and purifiers and the reduction of water losses, and strengthening the circular economy, maximizing the recovery and reuse of waste.

This implies a transformation of the social, economic and productive system accompanied by the push of technological innovation and a multiplicity of actions in different areas: economy, industry, raw materials, water, waste, energy and many others. At the heart of the ecological transition is, in fact, the concept of "interdependence" between natural, economic and social phenomena, which is fundamental to succeed in embarking on a path of sustainable development.

The keywords to define the ecological transition are therefore multidisciplinarity, complexity, sustainability, inclusiveness, decarbonization, circular economy, resilience, protection of the natural environment. The means are renewable energy, energy efficiency and upgrading, technological innovation, digitization, green finance, sustainable supply chains and a strongly enabling framework of new rules to achieve the so-called "net zero" goal by 2050, that is, net zero CO2 emissions by mid-century.

The drive toward ecological transition has become increasingly strong in recent decades. Climate change has increased awareness of a paradigm shift toward more sustainable production and consumption patterns. Thus, with the onset of the ecological transition, there has been a growing awareness of the need to shift from a linear to a circular economic model.

Decarbonization and circular economy: definition and benefits

The term decarbonization implies the gradual reduction in the use of carbon-containing sources of energy production (such as coal, oil, gas), with high emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO2). This requires increasing consumption efficiency on the energy demand side and replacing fossil fuels with renewable alternatives on the supply side.

At the same time, less raw materials need to be used. Organic materials must be able to be returned to the biosphere, and man-made materials must be designed to be reused with minimal loss of quality. Wastewater treatment, composting of food residues, and biogas generation from anaerobic digestion of sludge and organic waste are all examples of circular economy.

Thus, we speak of "transition" since the transition to a new development model involves a transformation phase. Consistent with the principle of interdependence, a multidisciplinary method must be adopted to deal with sustainable development in a complex scenario.

This virtuous and circular model is applied in different areas of action that find expression in the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and those of the Paris Agreement. These goals have been incorporated in the European context in the European Green Deal and declined by individual countries through the initiatives of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plans (PNIEC) and the National Recovery and Resilience Plans (PNRR).

Italy is also following the National Ecological Transition Plan, integrated right with the PNRR, which presents the European and national legislative framework in which the macro-objectives to be pursued for the next 30 years are located, as well as the economic and political levers to make them feasible.

The Plan (PTE) has identified specific objectives that can be summarized in five categories of intervention:

1. implementation of the transition from a linear economy to a circular economy through the management of natural resources, residues and waste, including in agriculture and bioeconomy
2. achievement of climate neutrality by 2050 by accelerating the process of zeroing anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions 
3. reduction of pollution to substantially zero by encouraging sustainable mobility 
4. activation of climate change adaptation measures by implementing interventions to counteract ongoing hydrogeological disruptions in the resilience of natural, anthropogenic and water resource systems 
5. restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems through conservation measures (increase of protected areas on land and sea), and implementation of nature-based solutions in order to restore more naturalness to urban, degraded areas and key areas such as rivers and coasts.