اثرات اجتماعی نوآوری های زیست محیطی در شهرهای هوشمند ایتالیایی The social effects of eco-innovations in Italian smart cities

1. Introduction That the European Union is imbued with the paradigm of ecological modernization is well shown by the faith it has towards concepts such as green economies, smart cities, eco-innovation, technologies and so on [for a glossary of all terms, see the Appendix A]. For example, green economies, originally seen as a useful policy approach to tackle the economic and financial crisis that began in 2008, is today seen as a strategic way of delivering a fairer society in a better environment (European Environment Agency, 2014). In fact, the concept can today be understood as a way to achieve sustainable development: “essentially, the concept postulates that the transformation of the economy is a precondition for sustainable development” (Eurostat, 2013). Eco-innovation is considered a primary enabling factor towards a green economy, especially as the policy framework for green innovation is already in place. While it is not the only element in creating a green economy, innovation can be a fundamental lever in guiding EU energy and material systems towards a radical transformation of practices. More generally, eco-innovation and green technologies are key to Europe’s future and at the heart of the European Union’s policies. As we read on the EU website,1 the EU’s economic prosperity and well-being is intrinsically linked to its natural environment, and the global demand for renewable energy and resource-efficient solutions will be a source of jobs and economic growth in the years to come. Above all, eco innovation is considered vital for delivering the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy. At the same time, the EU’s 7th Environment Action Programme (7EAP)2 sets out a vision of “living well within the limits of the planet”, including the need to “turn the Union into a resource-efficient, green, and competitive low-carbon economy”, by 2050. Meeting these objectives will require new technologies and approaches to business, while these innovative ideas will in turn make European companies more competitive and help drive their growth. More recently, the EU adopted a Circular Economy Strategy,3 aimed to transform Europe into a more competitive resource-efficient economy with a key role for eco-innovation in the context of job creation, growth and competitiveness, as well as in environmental protection.