Assessment of Energy, Mobility, Waste, and Water Management on Italian Small Islands
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Published:2023-07-25
Issue:15
Volume:15
Page:11490
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ISSN:2071-1050
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Container-title:Sustainability
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Sustainability
Author:
Battistelli Francesca1ORCID, Messina Ambra1, Tomassetti Laura1ORCID, Montiroli Cassandra1, Manzo Eros1, Torre Marco1, Tratzi Patrizio1ORCID, Segreto Marco1, Chu Chen-Yeon2ORCID, Paolini Valerio1ORCID, Corsini Alessandro3ORCID, Petracchini Francesco1ORCID
Affiliation:
1. National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Via Salaria 29300, 00015 Monterotondo, Italy 2. Institute of Green Products, Feng Chia University, No. 100, Wenhwa Rd., Seatwen, Taichung 40724, Taiwan 3. Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Rome, Italy
Abstract
Small islands are recognized for their vulnerability to climate change. In this context, mitigation and adaptation policies are needed, but the ecological transition must be based on data. This study aims to assess the level of sustainability reached by 26 of the inhabited Italian small islands; it collects and analyzes the data and initiatives on the energy, mobility, waste, and water sectors and discusses the islands’ steps toward sustainability. The findings show that 18 of the 26 islands are not interconnected with the national grid and that the renewable sources cover less than 5% of the energy demand on 25 of the 26 islands. The number per capita of private vehicles reaches 90 cars per 100 inhabitants on three islands. The average of the separate collection of waste on the islands is 52%, which is far from the minimum recommended threshold of 65%. Pipelines or tankers on 17 of the 26 islands guarantee the water supply, and desalination plants are still not the rule, while the presence of wastewater treatment has been detected on 12 islands, and it often provides only partial treatment. An ambitious multi-stakeholder sustainability plan for each island should be developed to overcome the typical barriers of the island and to increase the building capacity in order to use economic incentives for that goal.
Subject
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment,Geography, Planning and Development,Building and Construction
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