The idea of the WWF to decarbonise Italy starts from the South. It takes the closure of Enel's Federico II di Cerano plant in Brindisi as a model to present a sustainable economy model for the Apulian area and beyond. On the sidelines of a recent meeting on energy transition, the "Brindisi now future" laboratory of ideas and planning was launched. Until 18 February 2019, those who want to propose solutions and projects can do so by completing a questionnaire on the page wwf.it/laboratoriobrindisi.
The issue is deeply felt by the environmental association which, together with the No to Coal Committee, has published the update of the dossier “Coal: really turning the page in Italy, in Europe and in the world”. Now, it is said, it is not necessary think more only about the closing date of a plant, but the problem arises of how to relaunch the areas that house the old plants, creating new sustainable employment from an environmental and economic point of view.
WWF has long been campaigning for the closure of coal plants, the most polluting of fossil fuels. Various targeted actions have been carried out in favor of economic and employment alternatives. A study by ENEA on Liguria is recalled on several occasions, where there are three coal-fired plants, two of which are closed. In the transition from the old to the new, the conversion of the system with batteries for photovoltaic systems, energy efficiency interventions in the residential sector, electrification of port docks and much more are hypothesized. One way to create more than 4.500 jobs by halving the per capita emissions of Liguria. Shared this setting, the Brindisi plant could become an international model of just transition.
The Italian goal is to close the sites by 2025 at the latest. Towards this goal, events and meetings are organized to facilitate the phase out, involving citizens and all stakeholders as much as possible. A just transition, albeit limited, also looks at local green economy systems to the benefit of the environment, health and workers to be gained from other energy business models.
The territorial areas of the plants become areas of experimentation accepted by the populations and institutions. Last year, the SEN (National Energy Strategy) declared the political objective of closing the plants by 2025. Environmentalists, as they said, hope that with the Energy and Climate Plan, which the Government must present to brief, the decision is reinforced by concrete measures and a timeline. They are not alone. Even energy companies are waiting a more defined scenario. In Puglia, then, we are still dazed by the affair of the Tap gas pipeline and by change of course of the government with respect to the commitments pre-election. Obviously, this cannot be the case for the spill from coal.
The file “Coal: really turning the page in Italy, in Europe and in the world” frames the need to proceed expeditiously. In Europe, it is estimated that the health impacts of coal burning alone cost €62 billion a year. If a social cost were also to be attributed to the global climate impact caused by carbon emissions, the most accredited analyzes reported in the dossier say that each ton of CO2 would cost on average over 400 dollars.
Italy, however, supports the Association of Coal Operators with 8 active plants, is the only country in Europe not to have nuclear power and with only 13% of electricity generated from coal. In Europe the average is 26%. So we are not the most harmful. The coal used arrives by sea for 90% from USA, South Africa, Australia, Canada, China, Russia. With a very high import, at risk in the coming years.
Sen has allocated 175 billion for the transition to renewables, aiming to replace gas with coal. There is controversy over CO2 emissions which for some would be equivalent between the two fuels. The dispute would make the SEN reviewable on this point, but we think that will not be the case. The time available to give up coal is not unlimited. Environmentalists launch their strategic challenge from the South and are not sorry for the good that can be done for the environment and the green economy. We are in the midst of an epochal transition that requires lucidity and concreteness. And the money belongs to everyone.
