The Five Star movement - ascertained by Post.it - has copied a large part of its electoral programme. On energy and the environment, for example, not at all original ideas are reported. The Post has listed them and Beppe Grillo will not have been happy to discover that his, to be credible, have plundered other people's proposals. Even less when they stole something from the Democratic Party. This is the M5S. On the left, on the other hand, there are tough guys who give up seriously discussing environmental issues, as happened the other day in Puglia on the sidelines of a debate on Ilva. Forza Italia and the center-right on environmental issues even risk a sensational own goal with the breezy hypothesis of a new building amnesty. Berlusconi tried to deny it yesterday, but there are those in his coalition who believe it. The truth is that little is said about the environment, energy and climate change in this electoral campaign. Worse when the proposals are contradictory and confused.
Credit must therefore be given to a large group of scientists from various universities and research institutions for having raised the issue by asking for a multi-voiced debate before 4 March. The politicians were sent on 18 February to the Città dell'Altra Economia in Rome to discuss "La Scienza al Voto". In the appeal, the scientists accuse the political forces of being distracted on such central issues. More deeply, alignments are criticized for not considering the environment, climate change and energy as important topics in the electoral competition. The wiles of the M5S are not controlled by their young candidate for prime minister. Instead, Di Maio should know that when he meets the representatives of big industry, the polluting impacts of production are now the very essence of business.
The choices of center-left governments - from the SEN, to the signing of the Paris agreements, to research funds, to energy infrastructures - are acquired things that Italians should defend and maintain. Is it serious to make Puglia's voters believe that without the left in government, the Tap pipeline would be blocked? That the conversion of Ilva in Taranto would be called into question as the Apulian governor Pd Emiliano would also like? Voters will decide with more pragmatism than many illusionists (not just M5S) who tread the electoral scene. When it comes to climate, environment and energy, it must be recognized that in the last five years Italy has made up for chronic delays with respect to European standards, even if it continues to take fines for waste, fine particles and emissions into the atmosphere. With Industry 4.0, a broad understanding has been reached on technological innovation, reduction of pollutants, investments, respect for the territory. If Forza Italia claims that in six months Italian industries will pay for energy as much as foreign competitors, it should also explain the methods. Don't they really know that the Gentiloni government has already reduced that cost to companies whose energy account is equal to 20% of turnover?
It is understood that the initiative of the scientists is of great use. If they don't really think of "teaching" politicians, they will at least explain to them the effects of energy security, infrastructure, supplies and health protection on the economy.
