The 2023 edition

The next Sustainable Development Festival will represent an important stage in the path towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda just 7 years before its expiry. 2022 was dominated by the war in Ukraine, its social and economic consequences, and the impact they had on societies and economies, especially in the European Union. The repercussions of the pandemic and of war on sustainable development are evident, especially concerning the ecological transition and international cooperation, as well as multilateralism, a necessary prerequisite for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. This was also evident on the occasion of COP27, which saw an historic agreement for the creation of a fund to finance the damages suffered by vulnerable countries, but did not mark decisive steps for the reduction of greenhouse gases and the acceleration of the process of abandoning fossil fuels. Not surprisingly, the Secretary General of the United Nations António Guterres has warned that more must be done to drastically reduce emissions and not bring our planet beyond a 1.5 degree increase in temperature.

In light of this scenario, 2023 will be a crucial year for our country and the entire world. In Italy it will be necessary to give substance to the constitutional reform of Articles 9 and 41, with the inclusion of the protection of the environment, biodiversity and ecosystems among the constitutional rights, with a prospect of intergenerational justice. Furthermore, during the year the implementation of the National recovery and resilience plan (Pnrr) will continue and the programming by the Regions and Municipalities of the 2021-27 Eu and national funds (almost 130 billion) will have to be completed. At the international level, numerous major events, such as the G7, the G20 and the COP28, will be crucial to reactivate the multilateral dialogue. It will be an important year for the European Union: the last one before the next Parliamentary elections, the year dedicated to skills and the year in which the Eu will present its Voluntary review on the 2030 Agenda at the Un.

In 2023 the Alliance will organize the Festival in an innovative format compared to the last editions, which saw the main events concentrated in Rome due to the restrictions related to the pandemic. This year, the main events organized by ASviS and its Working Groups will take place in various cities throughout Italy, each of which will host a stage of the Festival, with events on various themes, thanks to a partnership with the cities and universities. With this new format, the Festival assigns a leading role to the territories, also highlighting the new research centers created by the PNRR on disciplines related to the 2030 Agenda (biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, sustainable mobility, etc.). The calendar includes stops in Bologna, Milan, Naples, Rome and Turin, with initiatives organized by ASviS and its Working Groups, in detail:

In Naples, from 8 to 10 May, with events focused on southern issues, inequalities and the social pillar of the 2030 Agenda in general;
In Bologna, from 11 to 14 May, dedicating the initiatives to the environmental pillar of the 2030 Agenda and in particular to the relationship between the city and the climate;
In Milan, from 15 to 17 May, with a focus on businesses, finance and the economic aspects of sustainable development;
In Turin, from 18 to 22 May the events will be organized as part of the International Book Fair, with a reflection on the world of culture and its contribution to improving knowledge and awareness of sustainable development issues in public opinion and the various stakeholders.
Finally in Rome on 23 and 24 May, to explore the institutional issues and to deliver the results of the Festival during the closing event in the Chamber of Deputies.

In addition to these initiatives, as every year, hundreds of events will enrich the program with a vast variety of initiatives including conferences, workshops, book presentations, shows and much more, as well as culture, technology, information and education. All these events will deal with issues related to the Goals of the 2030 Agenda, linking them to the major themes of innovation, the economic, social and environmental scenario, as well as geopolitical issues, inequalities between countries and within countries, with the aim of bringing them close and interesting for the general public, thanks to the involvement of experts from all sectors and collaborations with key stakeholders. There are also online training courses, artistic illuminations of monuments, concerts, presentations of documents and much more, with the aim of spreading the messages of the 2030 Agenda also through contamination with the languages of art, culture and various media.

In Naples, from 8 to 10 May, with events focused on southern issues, inequalities and the social pillar of the 2030 Agenda in general;
In Bologna, from 11 to 14 May, dedicating the initiatives to the environmental pillar of the 2030 Agenda and in particular to the relationship between the city and the climate;
In Milan, from 15 to 17 May, with a focus on businesses, finance and the economic aspects of sustainable development;
In Turin, from 18 to 22 May the events will be organized as part of the International Book Fair, with a reflection on the world of culture and its contribution to improving knowledge and awareness of sustainable development issues in public opinion and the various stakeholders.
Finally in Rome on 23 and 24 May, to explore the institutional issues and to deliver the results of the Festival during the closing event in the Chamber of Deputies.