The protagonists of the Network of Sustainable Municipalities
The list of municipalities taking part in the initiative is truly vast and varied: it includes large cities such as Rome, Turin, Ancona, Foggia, Lecce, Mantua and Nuoro; small villages such as Ceglie Messapica (BR), Zungoli (AV), Salemi (TP) and San Gimignano (SI); municipalities on small islands such as Anacapri (NA); and entire provinces such as the Province of Brindisi and the Province of Foggia. The full list is published online on the association’s website (Comuni sostenibili - Comuni aderenti).
The commitment made by these various local bodies is therefore to implement the goals of the 2030 Agenda, a document that aims to guarantee inclusive and sustainable economic growth, as well as the protection of the environment and people’s well-being globally. The Network’s priority objectives therefore include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting renewable energy, safeguarding biodiversity and promoting sustainable lifestyles.
The actions undertaken clearly vary from one member municipality to another; in general, the transition towards a more sustainable society is encouraged by launching projects to reduce waste, promote soft mobility and improve the energy efficiency of public buildings, by starting information and environmental education campaigns, and much more.
A few concrete cases
The city of Naples, for example, is working to reduce waste production and promote its recycling and reuse, in line with the goals of the circular economy. Similarly, Turin has launched projects to encourage cycling and the use of public transport, thereby reducing air pollution and improving air quality.
Smaller municipalities are also doing their part: Ceglie Messapica (BR), the first village in Apulia to join the Network, is, for example, investing in sustainable tourism through green itineraries and food and wine initiatives, such as the Ceglie Food Festival, which aim to promote local products and local farming. The municipality is also working on its Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan and was recently awarded the ‘plastic free municipality’ recognition.
All these initiatives are, moreover, collected in the Guida dei Comuni Sostenibili (Guide to Sustainable Municipalities), a useful volume published by the association, which allows readers to learn about the municipalities in the Network and also suggests ideas for a green trip, discovering an Italy that keeps up with the times (Guida dei Comuni Sostenibili).
Strength in unity
The Network shows that sharing experiences and knowledge among its members is a fundamental and necessary aspect of maximising the effects of the actions carried out. Thanks to cooperation between local administrations and the active involvement of citizens, it is indeed possible to achieve concrete and lasting results, and to create synergies that increase the impact of the initiatives under way.
The Network of Sustainable Municipalities is, without doubt, an ambitious project, but it is at the same time capable of showing how local authorities, by joining forces, can make a difference, becoming protagonists in the process of evolving towards a greener and more responsible society.
At a time in history when sustainability is increasingly crucial to guaranteeing a better future for the next generations, the Network of Sustainable Municipalities stands as a virtuous example to follow, a model that could be replicated in other local contexts to foster a transition towards a fairer, more caring world that is more respectful of the environment.
