Italy is on a path of unsustainable development, according to the Asvis 2024 Report

For the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development the picture is gloomy:many objectives seem unachievable for 2030, causing poverty and climate concern.

• The Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development (Asvis) has published the 2024 Report on the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Our country is "on a path of unsustainable development":little progress has been made, many delays have accumulated.
• The situation is slightly better in Europe, where gender equality is improving but a step forward on the green transition is needed.

Italy is on a path of unsustainable development and the time to reverse the trend and resume the march towards achieving the sustainable development objectives ofUnited Nations Agenda 2030and, it is rapidly running out.This is the message launched by the Asvis 2024 Report, which relies on the numerous reminders of the President of the Republic Mattarella on the fact that tackling the climate crisis and achieving the ecological transition "it's not just a bureaucratic exercise for dreamers”.According to theItalian Alliance for Sustainable Development, However, only through concerted and integrated actions will it be possible to guarantee a sustainable future for present and future generations.

The Asvis report, a coupon on the sustainable development goals

The Asvis 2024 report, which constitutes a sort of annual coupon on the progress of Italy and the European Union in the main socio-economic and environmental challenges, which constitute the 2030 objectives, highlights how the current state of the world, characterized by growing catastrophic and existential risks, comes largely from the choices we have made.As a national government, and also at community level.For Asvis it is essential to understand that sustainability "is not just an investing issue energy or climate issues” and that any postponement of necessary actions increases the risks of unsustainability of the entire system and the costs of the transition towards a new structure.

Italy, insufficient progress

Although Italy has made some progress, the most up-to-date statistical indicators clearly describe the dramatic delay in the country on all 17 SDGs, the sustainable development goals set for 2030.Between 2010 and 2023, there have been deteriorations in five fundamental objectives: poverty (SDG 1), inequalities (SDG 10), terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15), governance (SDG 16) e partnerships (SDG 17).These key areas, which include crucial issues such as the fight against poverty economic and food and the protection of biodiversity require urgent interventions to reverse the negative trends.

Very limited improvements, less than one point per year, were recorded in sectors such as decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), theclean energy (SDG 7), and the fight against climate change (SDG 13), but such progress is insufficient to guarantee that Italy can reach the targets set by 2030.A picture of more significant improvements emerges in areas such as health and well-being (SDG 3) e education (SDG 4), although there remains ample room for improvement.

Particularly noteworthy is thecircular economy (SDG 12), which recorded an increase of more than one point per year, thanks to policies that promote the reuse of materials and waste reduction.However, the slowness with which Italy is implementing other crucial reforms risks compromising the overall achievement of the objectives.

Even in the European Union limited progress

The ASviS 2024 Report highlights that, despite the 2019-2024 legislature having integrated the SDGs into all European policies, and the approval of the European regulation for nature restoration which can represent a decisive change of pace, progress remains unsatisfactory.The indicators show improvements limited and non-uniform between various countries and sectors.Although there have been advances in goals such as clean and accessible energy (SDG 7), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) e innovation (SDG 9), this progress is not sufficient to hope to reach the targets of the 2030 Agenda by the end of the decade.Only the relative goal at the gender equality (SDG 5) has seen an improvement of almost 10 points compared to 2010 levels, while for other objectives the increase is less than five points.

In particular, significant critical issues remain in the sectors of protection of terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15) and of reduction of inequalities (SDG 10), where there is little progress or, in some cases, even worsening.Furthermore, inequalities between the various countries of the European Union remain stable or even increase for some objectives, which highlights the need for more effective and coordinated policies.As for the 17 quantitative targets set by the EU, only 10 seem reachable by 2030, while for five the objective appears out of reach and for two the judgment is suspended.

The EU, while remaining a leader in sustainable development policies, must face the challenges related to sustainability with greater determination green transition, at thesocial equality and to territorial cohesion, if it wants to materialize the commitments made with the 2030 Agenda

Climate change and “polycrisis”

A central theme of the report is the worsening of the climate crisis.For the first time, in 2023, the planet has for long stretches surpassed the threshold of +1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels.The frequency and intensity of extreme climate events have increased, resulting in damage to agricultural production, worsening of health, migration and economic crises.The number of people in extreme poverty has increased globally, a trend exacerbated by the pandemic and reduced investment in essential services.

A series of issues that make ad Asvis that we live in a historical phase characterized by “polycrisis”, that is, the intersection of old and new crises that put the progress and very survival of humanity at risk.The Pact on the Future, signed on 22 September 2023 by the United Nations, recognizes that "current risks require a change of course", confirming the 2030 Agenda as the foundation for a sustainable future.However, despite the importance of the Pact, the Asvis 2024 Report complains of an absolute silence on the part of politicians and Italian media during the negotiation phases.

The proposals of the Alliance for Sustainable Development

To address the challenges that have emerged and accelerate progress towards the SDGs, Asvis in its report, like every year, puts forward several proposals:

• an acceleration plan for the SDGs:The government should adopt an acceleration plan to make up for the accumulated delay.This plan must take into account financial opportunities and constraints and integrate with European policies, in order to ensure a concrete commitment towards achieving the objectives.
• a national climate law:Asvis insists on the need for one national climate law that sanctions the goal of climate neutrality by 2050.The law should fix coherent intermediate targets, as well as establishing a Climate Science Council to monitor progress and guide policies.
• Territorial cohesion and hydrogeological risk prevention:The report highlights the importance of preventing hydrogeological risk through investments in infrastructure and a coordination of national and local policies.It is crucial that cohesion policies are oriented towards achieving sustainable development objectives, says Asvis, by reducing territorial inequalities.
• Youth participation:The report places great emphasis on the importance of strengthening young people's participation in political decisions.Among the proposals are the remote voting for off-site students, adopted on an experimental basis and only partially in the last European elections, and the inclusion of youth representatives in key institutions.

For now, however, Italy seems far from being able to comply with these proposals:a draft national climate law has been presented in Parliament but with a high level of opposition, therefore with little chance of being approved soon, the national plan for the mitigation of hydrogeological risk is going slowly and territorial cohesion is also put at risk by the looming law ondifferentiated autonomy.