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Interview with Simonetta Badini, the coordinator of the “Environmental participation and communication” working group of Kyoto Club.
It just launched a program to maximize the efficiency of the actions taken by Italian enterprises to fight climate change and increase their competitiveness. It’s Kyoto Club, a non-profit organisation established in 1999 that works to promote the respect for the environment with the participation of citizens, enterprises and institutions. Recycling Point interviewed Simonetta Badini, the coordinator of a working group called “Environmental participation and communication”.
“Kyoto Club is a non-profit organisation officially founded in February 1999. It consists of business companies, authorities, local associations and administrations, engaged in reaching the greenhouse gas emission reduction targets set forth by the Protocol of Kyoto, as well as the targets set forth by the EU for 2030 and by the Roadmap project for 2015. To accomplish these goals, Kyoto Club promotes awareness raising, information and education initiatives in the fields of energetic efficiency, renewable energies and sustainable mobility. Kyoto Club also interacts with public decision makers and cooperates to develop specific, effective proposals and intervention policies in the energy-environment sector.”
Why did you decide to set up a working group on environmental participation and communication?
“Our country has started focusing on environmental problems just about thirty years ago, so today we are still in a phase of spreading of the eco-friendly message and development of a collective consciousness about this matter. Information about themes such as green economy and sustainable development of the territory plays a key role, and it is important to develop an educational approach to these themes. We have to raise awareness and emotional participation about the green development! This is why we formed a specific working group about environmental communication and participation“
What does this working group focus on?
“Our group is composed of experts in the field of environmental sustainability under my coordination. We create specific focus points about different aspects of the environmental protection, for example energy efficiency, development of renewable energies, reduction of waste, circular economy, green public procurement. We aim at creating moments of education and exchange that promote the interaction and participation of all stakeholders.”
Who does your work address?
“Our communication activity has a very broad scope: our target audience includes all those who are interested in receiving and spreading positive examples of best practice, with the aim of supporting and increasing environmental friendly practices.
What initiatives are you planning?
“We recently drafted our program for 2016, which includes meetings and discussions in preparation of the main event scheduled for October: Ecoincentriamoci. It will be a green forum with several important participants and it will focus on the theme of “sharing”, one of the keywords for a fairer and more cooperative future.”
Global actions often start on a small scale: how important is it to raise awareness at a local level?
“The whole concept of sustainable development can be summarized with the expression “think global, act local”: it’s essential to make the most of local identities and peculiarities to become both sustainable and competitive on a global scale. We want to go beyond the standardisation process that is brought about by globalizing stylistic and consumerist impositions. We need to rediscover a local, more personal dimension, a dimension that enhances the value of historic-cultural peculiarities of each territory. A global vision that starts from a local level, a “glocalisation”, to use Bauman’s words: glocalisation is the definition that best expresses the two faces of modernity.”
What are the goals of the working group?
“We mostly aim at creating synergies among all stakeholders to improve their environmental protection actions.”
What’s the importance of the Paris meeting? What expectations do you have from it?
“We sure have very high expectations! The COP21 international climate summit in Paris will be a decisive moment to try and develop a global approach to climate emergency and reach a common agreement. Today more than ever, it would be really important to take a common action about this problem: it would be a significant step forward towards the development of collective awareness and responsibility.”
On December 3rd at 10:30, Simonetta Badini will be holding a free webinar as a part of Kyoto Club’s “Sustainability Practices” project about environmental communication. All details can be found here.
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