Environmental sustainability, social inclusion and economic competitiveness in the cities of the future. The picture which emerges from Enel’s third study on the circular economy shows that promoting an approach based on that theme represents a “huge opportunity” to redesign urban landscapes and bring a marked improvement in the quality of life in the future. Carried out by a group led by Francesco Starace with the contribution of Arup, Intesa Sanpaolo Group and Future Food Institute, the study “Circular Cities - Cities of Tomorrow” shows that cities generate over 80% of global economic output, but are also the places where global challenges are most critical. From an environmental point of view, the circular economy can contribute up to 45% of global decarbonisation efforts by 2050. From a social standpoint, it is expected to create new jobs, particularly those less vulnerable to automation and which require new skills and expertise. Regarding the economy, circular models can secure more competitive services for citizens and lower costs for companies.
As a key player in the energy field, we want to contribute to the development of a sustainable urban vision for the future
Francesco Starace, Enel CEO
“Long before humankind could see the glow of city lights from space, Paris was called the ‘Ville lumière’. This underlines the striking achievement of public lighting at that time,” said Enel’s CEO and General Manager Francesco Starace, commenting on the study. “We have come a long way since the invention of public lighting, and we use more and more energy in our cities, especially in the form of electricity, for our work and daily life. Electricity is, and will increasingly be, the lifeblood of cities thanks to increasing electrification,” the CEO observed, underlining Enel’s strong commitment to contributing to “the development of a sustainable urban vision for the future.” The Group plays a fundamental role as a “key player in the energy sector.” It has been operating in the world for years by “bringing together economic, social and environmental sustainability goals,” and taking into consideration “all the sectors and elements that make up a city.”
Today this vision is “even more urgent if we consider the current challenging period” and, as Starace pointed out, it is “implemented across the circular city projects we are carrying out worldwide, which represent a further contribution towards a more sustainable future.” This is also confirmed by the study, which was published on the 24th of September: in the counties where it operates, Enel aims to involve all the relevant stakeholders in the transition to circularity as applied to cities, promoting an approach to the circular economy based on clear objectives and targets. This is combined with a governance that is not just top-down but also bottom-up, and a perspective which includes all key business areas.
Enel editorial staff