World Fair on Waste Management : Ecomondo, 26th edition kicks off at Rimini Exhibition Centre with record numbers

The inaugural ceremony was attended by Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Minister for the Environment and Energy Security, Stefano Bonaccini, President of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Anna Montini, Councillor for Ecological Transition of the Municipality of Rimini, and Maurizio Renzo Ermeti, President of Italian Exhibition Group, organiser of the event.
Ermeti, in his introductory speech, recalled that "the history of Ecomondo was born from the dual intuition of two exceptional people: Edo Ronchi, who in 1997 as Minister of the Environment presented the decree that bears his name and that changed the paradigm with which the waste issue had always been approached in Italy. And Lorenzo Cagnoni, our late president, who in the same year inaugurated the 'Ricicla' exhibition, now Ecomondo. In his memory, IEG wanted to establish an award for the companies with the highest rate of innovation present at the fair: the 'Lorenzo Cag' Award.

"Ecomondo not only welcomes established companies, but also opens up to start-ups, which embody a model of innovation that is essential for our progress," emphasised Anna Montini, Councillor for Ecological Transition of the Municipality of Rimini. "This year the event is also enriched with an area linked to the blue economy, a particularly strategic sector for Rimini. A candidate to become Capital of Culture for 2026, our city stands out for its investments in urban regeneration, the renewal of the sewage system, and the qualification of the coastal profile of the seafront. All transformations inspired by the environmental themes and culture that Ecomondo radiates throughout the territory'.

Stefano Bonaccini, President of the Emilia-Romagna Region, explained that "Emilia-Romagna has exceeded 73% separate waste collection, but we must invest even more against land consumption. There is great cooperation with Minister Pichetto Fratin: I have been appointed commissioner for the construction of the regasifier and I guarantee that it will be ready within two years. This is the transition, the future is renewable energy: that is why the largest wind farm in Italy will be built in Ravenna'.
For Minister Pichetto Fratin, 'climate change is a great challenge that our country faces with the goal of cutting emissions by 55% by 2030. An arduous task in view of what is happening worldwide, but one to be undertaken

An arduous task because of what is happening worldwide, but one to be undertaken for the new generations. These are goals that we must achieve through a new model of consumption and production, which affects so many sectors and which sees the government and the production categories committed to finding the balance between cost-effectiveness and balance with society. Our challenge is decarbonisation. Starting from the automotive industry, on which we must work to achieve emissions neutrality, to construction, on which we must intervene with tax breaks and tax credits, but also with a country pathway to more efficient buildings, to the third strand, modern agriculture". "A further challenge,' he continued, 'is plastics, which sees Emilia-Romagna as a region in the vanguard. Italy leads Europe in recycling and has demonstrated its ability to turn waste into a new raw material. The challenge of the future will be to recover critical minerals from waste. One example above all: 70% of Italian steel is produced from scrap. That is why this fair is important, to accompany the transition through the transformation that can be achieved with technology'.

More than 30 delegations are expected at Ecomondo over the four days of the fair, with about 280 delegates from North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, Europe and Eastern Europe. 230 national and international events will take place over the four days.

The 13th edition of the Stati Generali della Green Economy, organised by the National Council for the Green Economy consisting of 68 business organisations, in cooperation with MASE and the Foundation for Sustainable Development, is also underway.
The Stati Generali della Green Economy is divided into plenary sessions in the morning and five thematic breakout sessions. In the opening plenary session, the 2023 Report on the state of the green economy in Italy was presented, which investigates the relationship between the costs and economic benefits of the ecological transition and updates the performance of strategic green issues. Tomorrow's international session will be dedicated to the theme 'Challenges for companies and governments in a changing climate'.