'Green' diplomacy takes centre stage

 ROME – The Coronavirus pandemic has transformed the 11th edition of the Diplomacy Festival, which kicked off Monday in Rome, into a hybrid of face-to-face and online interaction.

 With a focus on the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation facing Europe and the world, the festival is hosting a range of events on the ‘Green Deal’ and ‘green’ diplomacy.

 The European Green Deal is the road map for making the EU sustainable. The goal is to transform climate issues and environmental challenges into opportunities in all policy areas and make the transition fair and inclusive for all.

 It starts on Wednesday, with a webinar on the development of sustainable cruise tourism promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and IORA (Indian Ocean RIM Association), an international organization made up of 22 states bordering the Indian Ocean, of which Italy has been a 'dialogue partner' since last year.

 The Festival dedicates two other sessions to the Italy-IORA partnership and opportunities for Italy in the context of the blue economy: Training and education in the maritime and coastal development sector (Oct. 22 at 11 a.m.) and Food law. A new strategy for global markets after Covid-19 (Oct. 26 at 3 p.m.).

 A 30-minute daily spot will be reserved on Channel One of the Festival platform for the Commonwealth Club of Rome, which will explore the theme of electric and sustainable mobility and how this is changing day-to-day habits in the various member states of the organization.

 On Oct. 26, in the Spazio Europa, the round table European Green Deal: sustainability and innovation will discuss the huge policy plan for climate neutrality in Europe.

 Also on Oct. 26, the Center for American Studies will host the debate, A Common Policy for Climate: how to avoid a catastrophic future.

 In terms of strategies and proposals for energy transition and the post-Covid economic restart, the Festival dedicates the Oct. 27 webinar, The role of energy for post-Covid 19 economic recovery.

 Still on energy transition and de-carbonization, The geopolitics of gas: Europe and the position of Visegrad Group takes place on Oct. 28.

 The Diplomacy Festival runs from 19 to 30 October.

 cc