ITALY - UK PARTNERSHIP

PARTNERSHIP | Autumn 2019 10 41 st Annual Conference Bringing together leaders to talk about environment and energy F irst held in 1978, the Annual Conference of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the UK is the most important appointment on the ICCIUK’s calendar. The event will focus on one of the major topics of the moment, “Energy & the Environment: Circular Economy”. The Conference was originally scheduled just prior to the International Monetary Fund as an informal get together of the participants en route from Italy to Washington, or to one of the other venues abroad. Over the years, it has become a significant event in its own right and an obligatory date on the agenda of anyone dealing with Italy and the UK. THIS YEAR’S THEME The impact of energy production and its use on the environment are a widespread source of concern, considering the world population increase and the behavioural changes linked to economic and social progress. The problem is not limited to power generation alone because the goods produced not only require energy but are a source of waste themselves. This is an inevitable consequence of the “take-make-dispose” model of a linear economy. A circular economy approach, in its different forms, could instead provide sustainable solutions to this problem. It would require actions at every step of the production-consumption process: decisional level, strategic planning, financial viability assessment, distribution chain and citizens’ habits would all be involved in this change. It would be a technical, economic, political and social multifaceted approach. Pledges in the direction of a sustainable future abound, for example the British Government’s commitment to a zero-carbon-emission economy by 2050. The path to achieve these goals is strewn with difficulties but their necessity is unquestionable. This year’s conference will bring together representatives from the political, economic and technical sectors with the aim of debating the feasibility of this challenge and the hurdles in front of us all to get through it. One of the speakers will be Julia King, Baroness Brown of Cambridge and Chair of the Carbon Trust, who is also the UK Government’s Low Carbon Business Ambassador. We will also have the pleasure to host Mike Rann, CEO of Rann Strategy Group and former Australia’s Ambassador to Italy, who was appointed Chair of Low Carbon Australia Ltd, the federal Government’s green bank supplying funds to companies to reduce carbon emissions. Other relevant speakers will soon be announced. WHERE ANDWHEN The Annual Conference will be held at the iconic venue that hosted the Chamber for many years in London: Church House, Deans Yard, a strategic place next to Westminster Abbey and the UK Parliament. The debate is set to commence on Friday 29th November at 9:00AM. Drinks and a formal luncheon follow at 12:30PM. The event normally concludes by 3PM. · Friday, 29th November 2019 Church House Conference Centre Westminster, London