H. Italy

Abstract

One major attraction for the debate on environmental protection and environment-related issues in Italy was the Universal Exposition, which was hosted by Milan from 1 May to 31 October. Expo 2015 was held under the theme Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life, with a principal centre of interest on the right to healthy, secure, and sufficient food for all of the world’s inhabitants, a theme that is intimately connected with the scarcity of resources and the principle of sustainability. In fact, on 5 June, World Environment Day was celebrated, focusing on recent data that show that the level of planet’s resource consumption is no longer sustainable. Today, mankind uses the amount of resources equivalent to that of nearly 1.5 planets. The World Environment Day’s theme, ‘Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care,’ focused on a problem that aligned perfectly with the issues addressed by the World Exhibition and reflected the challenge to create an opportunity for sustainable and inclusive development, while trying to stabilize the level of resource consumption and reduce the consequences on the environment. Another set of interesting initiatives was developed under the umbrella of Women for Expo, focusing on the crucial role played by women in reducing or avoiding food loss and waste and on the relationship between women, economic empowerment, and inclusive and sustainable industrial development.