Environment: ENEA-ANCIM agreement for sustainable development of minor islands

ENEA and ANCIM, the National Association of Minor Islands Municipalities, have signed an Agreement to work jointly at the enhancement of the environmental, cultural and social heritage assets of 36 minor islands municipalities, with the objective of making them a model of sustainability through the improvement of energy saving and efficiency, renewable energy sources, alternative mobility, sustainable water use, waste disposal and tourism. The islands involved, defined minor because of the size of their territory, are scattered across seven regions⁽¹⁾ for a total area of approximately 1000 km2 and 220thousand inhabitants, which become millions during the summer season.

"The agreement with ANCIM is paving the way to joint initiatives and projects for a sustainable energy, environmental and economic development of minor islands through the protection and the enhancement of local resources,  natural and cultural assets today under a significant tourism - driven pressure -pointed out Federico Testa, President of ENEA-. Following the positive experience of the Egadi Project for a sustainable tourism at Favignana, we have been engaged in several initiatives regarding minor islands, also for the rehabilitation of historical buildings such as Palazzo D’Avalos, the ancient Bourbon penitentiary at Procida".

“Integration and synergy are the two principles on which the ANCIM approach is based- Mario Corongiu, President of ANCIM, pointed out-. Since its establishment, they have been the guidelines for creating a new economic and social model. These principles are also set down in the draft law currently pending approval in the Senate. The agreement between ANCIM and ENEA is very important for minor islands that, due to their size, often don’t have the adequate technical expertise necessary for a modern and effective local government.”

The Memorandum of Understanding with ANCIM envisages a collaboration to identify sources of funding but also for training and information activities for administrators, operators, citizens and tourists, promoting the development of local economies and employment thanks to a sustainable, responsible and seasonally adjusted tourism.  A possible model is the one ENEA is implementing for a sustainable tourism at the Egadi Islands, with the creation of a composting plant for the transformation of the organic fraction of waste in fertilizer; the treatment and reuse of waste water and the setting up of a “water house”, powered by photovoltaic panels, to reduce the use of plastic bottles.

In 14 months over 200thousand litres of water have been delivered and over 5 tons of plastic waste avoided. The Agency has patented a procedure for the re-establishment of beach-cast Posidonia oceanica on the sea bottom, essential for the marine ecosystem because it can absorb significant amounts of CO2 and is an ideal habitat for the reproduction of numerous fish species.

An environmental quality label has been also created, managed by the Egadi Marine Protected Area, for local companies committed to reducing their environmental impact. 60 companies have already obtained the label for having met the sustainability criteria set for each tourism category. And visitors have increased by 7% in one year.

Among the targeted interventions envisaged by the agreement, there is the exploitation of local “renewable heritage assets” with the adoption of innovative energy technologies compatible with the landscape and experimental mobility systems at low environmental impact.  As concerns waste disposal, recycling and disposal will be fully managed  -when possible- by each municipality.

Rehabilitation of the building stock will allow to limit the construction of new structures. A digital platform will optimize the management of services and tourism.

⁽¹⁾Campania, Lazio, Liguria, Apulia, Sardinia, Sicily and Tuscany