AGRIGENTO (ITALPRESS) – The environment is one of the key themes for the regional government and the entire island. The first edition of the “Custode dell’Ambiente” Award, held on 21 November at the Teatro Luigi Pirandello in Agrigento, ended by highlighting a shared commitment, able to hold together institutional responsibilities, technical skills and participation of communities. An appointment that brought together institutions, professional orders, enterprises, associations, schools and citizens, offering a clear picture of the work started in Sicily on the front of environmental protection.
Established by the Assessorato al Territory e all’Ambiente della Regione Siciliana in collaboration with ARPA Sicilia, the Prize was born with the aim of enhancing the commitment of those who work for the quality of the territory, actively involving the Professional Orders in defining the contents of the day.
The ceremony, moderated by journalist Elvira Terranova, took place in a gremit theatre, in the presence of the parliamentary Luca Sbardella, of numerous representatives of national, regional and provincial deputation, as well as local administrators, representatives of institutions, academic world, associations and law enforcement.
The event opened with a video dedicated to the natural reserves and parks of Sicily, a visual story that returned the richness of the island’s landscapes and the initiatives started to protect them and make them more accessible.
After the greetings of the Mayor of Agrigento, Francesco Miccichè, the Regional Councillor for the Territory and the Environment Giusi Savarino has recalled the importance of consolidating an environmental vision capable of combining rigor, prevention and participation.
“Sicily, with its natural beauties and the strength of its landscapes, deserves a path to the height of its heritage – he says. It is from this responsibility that the work we are carrying out is born. Today’s day marks an important step, putting together professional orders, associations, citizens and students around a common goal: building a protection of the territory that is truly shared. The awards delivered to companies and present realities represent a concrete signal of the value of coherent choices, capable of affecting the quality of the environment and the future of our communities. When institutions, professions, enterprises and communities work in the same direction, our island can really fly higher.”
In the course of the work were also illustrated the measures prepared by the Region for the regeneration of urban and extraurban green, with contributions up to 50 thousand euros destined to the requalification of parks, urban gardens and public areas, in the municipalities together with the interventions dedicated to the strengthening of the natural reserves and the Sicilian parks.
A particularly expected contribution came from the State Secretary to the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, Claudio Barbaro, who stressed the consistency of the Sicilian route with national priorities and the need to strengthen, through long-term policies, the management of the territories and natural resources.
To follow, the President of the Senate Ignazio The Russian has received the Award “Ambassador of the Environment”, intervening in connection and recalling the value of the choices already started from the Region: “I thank the Councillor Giusi Savarino for the invitation. I’m sorry not to be present, but I have with my heart and with that Sicilianity that never left me. Sicily needs courageous choices and Agrigento, with the strength of its history and the delicacy of its landscapes, reminds us how urgent it is to protect what we have. The future of our island depends on the commitment we make today. To all of you, my thanks and my encouragement.”
The awards given by the national deputation during the evening have enhanced the commitment of enterprises, entities and realities that invest in the protection and enhancement of the territory. The Arena Group has been awarded the Environmental Caregiver, with the recognition withdrawn by the CEO Giovanni Arena; the Mancuso Group, represented by the founder Antonio Mancuso; Irritec S.p.A. represented by Carmelo Giuffrè; Seap Depurazione Acque S.r.l., with CEO Sergio Vella and organic farm Bagliesi Vini, to withdraw Daniela Bagliesi.
To these are added Sneark, represented by Lello Romano and Antonio Rizzuto; the City of Messina, with the Mayor Federico Basile; the City of Oliveri, with Mayor Francesco Iarrera; Sibeg, with Energy Manager Federico Barletta; and ConfAgricoltura Donna Sicilia, with Eugenia Gino.
During the evening were proclaimed the Ambassadors of the Environment, title attributed to the President of the Sicilian Region Renato Schifani, to the President of the Sicilian Regional Assembly Gaetano Galvagno – awarded during the morning session -, to the State Conservatory of Music “Arturo Toscanini” of Ribera Ambient, with the recognition withdrawn by President Giuseppe Tortorici, to the actress Lorena Cacciatore, photographer
The final part was entrusted to the President of the Sicilian Region, Renato Schifani, who illustrated the main actions carried out by the regional government on environmental protection.
“The safeguard of our environmental heritage is an absolute priority for my government – says President Schifani –. For this reason, in these three years we have put in place strategies, resources and skills necessary to offer concrete and timely answers to the needs of the territory. In the first place we placed prevention and contrast to fires, strengthening collaboration with all forces in the field and preparing a unified operating room to coordinate interventions. ‘installation of the control room, which we aim to make operational by next summer, will also allow to monitor and control areas at risk through satellite systems and advanced technologies. In the area of prevention, research and high technology, the Region has funded the Healthy Planet Center at Roosevelt in Palermo, the new strategic infrastructure of ARPA Sicily and the operational hub of the future Center of excellence for environmental sustainability, health and biodiversity. We want to be alongside our companies to adopt green technologies that make them more productive, competitive and environmentally friendly. With this objective we have allocated over 89 million euros to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in reducing energy consumption, reducing emissions and efficiency of their plants. It is a concrete step towards a sustainable development model that combines innovation, environmental protection and economic growth.”
At the end of the speech, the Councillor Giusi Savarino gave President Schifani the title of Environment Ambassador.
The award was awarded for the commitment shown in the coordinated approach to the main environmental emergencies of Sicily and in supporting structural interventions that look at the modernization of the regional system. The motivation traces the choices made in recent years, the promotion of thermo-valorizers of Palermo and Catania, considered decisive to overcome the dependence on landfills, on the plan of contrast to drought that includes the revamping of municipal wells, the construction of new purification plants, the reuse of sewage waste water for irrigation use, the strengthening of networks and the start of desalin projects.
A commitment that defines an integrated approach between energy, water and environment and that directs Sicily towards a more balanced and sustainable development model.
The evening closed with a clear signal: the protection of the environment is not an accessory chapter, but a commitment that requires continuity, method and a broad and conscious participation. A path that Sicily has chosen to carry out with responsibility and vision.
– Photo source Award “Custode dell’Ambiente” –
(ITALPRESS).
