How to face the complexity of the future? This question opened the meeting of the 24th May, one of the first events organized by the CMCC in the context of the Sustainable Development Festival 2018.
Professor Enrico Giovannini from the “Tor Vergata” University of Rome and author of the book “L’utopia sostenibile” (ed. Laterza, 2018) was the protagonist of the discussion, together with Prof. Carlo Carraro and Prof. Chiara Mio of Ca’ Foscari University, all mediated by the journalist Laura Bettini from radio 24 Il Sole 24 Ore.

The conversation focused on the concept of sustainability as a complex process, which should start being considered as an opportunity for a positive change. “It’s utopian to think that the current economic model will continue to function. It is better to believe in another utopia: the sustainable one” said Giovannini. According to the Professor, although the 2030 Agenda expresses the common global interest in a more sustainable future, such ambition should be put into practice. Italy and Europe have not yet fully embraced the concept of sustainability and the social, economic and political reassessment that it implies.

Prof. Carraro also underlines this point of view, specifying that the investments linked to climate change are rising globally (having reached 400 billion per year). Nevertheless, such achievements are linked to an economic advantage, rather than to an environmental consciousness.

According to Chiara Mio, enterprises, the public sector and politicians should start reasoning in terms of long term value creation; therefore investing in the human capital, instead of merely in the physical one. In fact, many entrepreneurs of big companies are aware of the importance of sustainability, and social sustainability in particular, for the future of enterprises. The confusion and misinformation on concepts such as charity, Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability is, however, still widespread.

The role of politics and policymakers is, therefore, crucial in supporting the private sector and the society in changing their attitude and mentality towards sustainability.