A turning point for global sustainability

As analyzed during the 2025 edition of Il Verde e Il Blu Festival, the geopolitical landscape is reshaping the role of sustainability: today, what impact does supporting a net-zero path generates?

As innovation accelerates, so does the awareness that not every novelty brings a real improvement in quality of life. Today more than ever, the fundamental question is: are we building progress, or simply shifting problems? The answer lies in the integration between technology and sustainability, as explored in Rome during the 2025 edition of Il Verde e Il Blu Festival.

In 2025, according to the International Energy Agency's Global Energy Investment Report, global energy investments will reach $3.3 trillion. More than two-thirds of this amount will go to non-fossil technologies: renewables, nuclear, batteries, smart grids, efficiency measures, and clean fuels. This marks a historic paradigm shift. Yet despite the numbers, this transition remains fragile at its core.

Energy Transition: an Uneven Path

Solar power continues to grow, both in utility-scale plants and in residential installations. By contrast, wind energy is showing signs of slowdown: the most favorable areas have already been exploited, and new projects are becoming less competitive. The real bottleneck, however, lies in the electric grid. Designed in an era of centralized generation, grids now need to adapt to distributed and intermittent production. But infrastructure investments are not keeping pace with those in renewables.

The risk is clear: producing clean energy that we can’t distribute or use. And without a modern, smart, and flexible grid, the electrification of end uses – in homes, industry, and transportation – remains partial. It’s a structural issue that demands urgent action, especially in developed countries, where upgrading existing grids is costly and complex. Conversely, developing countries could build more advanced systems from scratch, but they lack the resources to do so.

The Geopolitics of Sustainability

China offers a striking case. Today, it is the world’s largest investor in both clean energy (over $600 billion) and fossil fuels (more than $250 billion). On one hand, it leads the global market for solar panels, batteries, and electric mobility. On the other, it continues to fund coal to ensure domestic energy security. This dual-track approach creates significant global asymmetries.

India, despite its ambitious targets – 50% renewable energy by 2030 – faces critical infrastructure limitations. In Africa, where 20% of the world’s population lives, only 2% of global clean energy investments are allocated. In these regions, an incomplete transition risks deepening inequality.

Consumption Matters as Much as Production

Producing renewable energy is not enough. We also need to use it efficiently. Our cities continue to suffer from traffic, pollution, and inefficiencies. In Italy, only 6% of the car fleet is electric or plug-in hybrid, with an average vehicle age of 13 years. In homes, heating is still often powered by gas, even when solar panels are installed on the roof. Heat pumps are growing, but remain limited due to their cost.

Industry, largely energy-intensive, remains dependent on fossil fuels. Converting plants requires investment, expertise, and long-term vision. Without the real electrification of consumption, the transition remains incomplete. And this applies to artificial intelligence as well: language models generate significant environmental impacts. It’s essential to develop sustainable infrastructures and ethical standards to prevent phenomena like “AI-washing.”

The Importance of Culture and Local Context

Sustainability is also a cultural shift. More and more people are choosing products based on values like traceability, social justice, and environmental impact. Companies that can recognize this transformation will build stronger relationships, based on trust and consistency. And that trust must also be internalized by the companies themselves.

But the territory cannot be ignored. In 2023 alone, over 75 km² of land were consumed in Italy. And on average, major Italian cities experienced 65 days per year with temperatures exceeding 30°C. This changes the rules of the game: for agriculture, tourism, and the quality of urban life.

Industrial Districts: The Heart of Manufacturing

Over 140 industrial districts in Italy account for nearly one-third of national manufacturing exports. They represent a heritage of skills and local roots capable of driving the green and digital transition. According to Unioncamere, around 30% of manufacturing value added comes from these districts. If supported by the right policies, they can become the engine of the new green economy.

Companies that invest in decarbonization, circular economy, and smart processes are building resilience. This is not philanthropy—it is a forward-looking industrial strategy that reduces risks and strengthens competitiveness.

A Regulatory and Political Issue

This transformation must be backed by a stable, clear, and incentivizing regulatory framework. The International Energy Agency notes that only 15% of clean energy investments reach developing countries, hindered by weak regulations and high capital costs. We need to rethink the role of regulation, making it an ally of innovation, not a bureaucratic barrier.

The Trump Case: A Paradigm Shift

Donald Trump's return to the White House has disrupted the global climate balance. After taking office in January 2025, he signed Executive Order 14162, withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement and other environmental commitments. According to Trump, sustainability hinders American competitiveness. This vision has led to a decline in ESG investments, a review of green bonds, and a loosening of environmental regulations by the SEC.

However, this narrative has triggered opposite reactions in the private sector. Many companies have strengthened their sustainability strategies to maintain the trust of consumers and investors. The paradox is that in a hostile context, sustainability is emerging as an autonomous, pragmatic lever, driven by innovation.

Are We Doing the Right Thing?

Sustainability is not a trend – it is a condition for existence. Today more than ever, to innovate means to take responsibility for change. It is not enough to do something new. We must do the right thing.

Every decision—technological, political, business, or personal—should begin with one essential question:
“Does this change make the world better for everyone, today and tomorrow?”

SpaceX Starship Explodes

One of the components of SpaceX’s missile system, the company founded by Elon Musk, exploded on Wednesday as it was preparing for its tenth flight, scheduled for June 29. According to Musk, the rocket is essential to expand the growing Starlink satellite network in orbit.

Third Extension of the U.S. Ban on TikTok

With an order signed yesterday, U.S. President Donald Trump has extended for another 90 days the deadline that would force the Chinese parent company to exit TikTok, the popular social media app. The extension, first signed on January 20, would provide legal coverage for service providers who kept the app online and in their stores.

The European Lifestyle at Risk: IMF Analysis

IMF Executive Director Kristalina Georgieva stressed to Euronews the importance of accelerating growth within the single market: “In Europe, we are a superpower in terms of lifestyle,” Euronews reports, “but if we don’t become more productive, we could lose that advantage.”

Verde & Blu PILLS is the official podcast of the Verde & Blu Festival, hosted in italian by Camilla Orsini and Chiara Piselli. These short episodes bring the voices of out-of-the-box speakers, capturing in just a few minutes the key concepts and challenges presented during the various editions of the Festival.

Our word for this post is AI-washing

Practices through which companies or organizations promote the adoption of artificial intelligence by emphasizing its innovative aspects without concrete or sustainable implementation. Often used to gain reputational or financial advantages, without real process transformation or consideration of the environmental and ethical impact of AI technologies.

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