«The ecological transition costs money, we need to understand who pays»- Corriere.it

Sustainability «must be approached in all its dimensions, not just from an environmental point of view: e having pushed the hand mainly under this aspect, without considering the social and economic components, is producing a political rejection». This was stated by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Giancarlo Giorgetti, during the meeting “Sustainability in Action for the Future”, held this morning at the DHL Express Italy hub, at Malpensa airport. The minister then added that, “thousands of billions of euros are needed for the ecological transition, but the problem is who pays: the decision-maker, politics, is asked for a system of rules and incentives, but we need to understand who pays for this ecological transition – He says -. There are countries with more sensitivity to the issue and others with more willingness to finance interventions, but without a global response there is the risk of creating regulatory confusion and further inequalities”. The president of the Lombardy Region, Attilio Fontana, also agrees on the importance of the social component within any discussion on sustainability: «Sustainability is inevitable, but on one condition only: it must put the human being, the citizen, at the centre. – explains -. We have defined a regional development plan that is sustainable in various respects, and I must say that the entrepreneurs have understood this need very well».

Sustainable logistics

The realization of sustainable objectives also passes through the redefinition of logistics, from planes to cars, up to articulated vehicles. A crucial issue both for airports, such as Malpensa, and for cities, such as Milan. «We need to better regulate the issue of the last mile, therefore the arrival of goods and people in the city – says Giuseppe Sala, mayor of Milan -. With the opening of the new underground line and the renewal of public transport, we are providing an answer, but we need to do even more». Another crucial theme of the day, especially speaking of air transport, is the use of SAF, sustainable fuels for aviation, “which is worth a third of the objective of reducing emissions in the airport sector – says Armando Brunini, CEO of Sea Milan Airports —. We encourage the airlines to use it, but now it is produced in very little and the costs are very high. The contribution of policy makers is needed, but more generally, the sustainable transition can only be implemented in a perspective of collaboration between different subjects”. Starting from 2025, Saf will be mandatory in minimum quantities (at least 2%) in aviation fuels, but there are virtuous examples of those who have already started using it for flights. Already today, in fact, 25% of DHL Express international flights arriving and departing from Malpensa use Saf in an average percentage of mixing with ordinary fuel (the so-called “blending”) higher than the mandatory level from 2025. “However, let’s compare with a limited capacity of Saf and with prices on average five times higher than those of the other main European countries», explains the CEO, Nazzarena Franco.