Our planet stands at a critical juncture.
The environmental challenges we face – from climate change eroding biodiversity to pervasive pollution, and the growing scarcity of resources – are no longer distant spectres, but tangible realities that are shaping our present and mortgaging our future. The increase in global temperatures, the ever more frequent and intense extreme weather events, ocean acidification, and the loss of natural habitats are unequivocal signs of a planet under pressure, largely due to human activities and our unsustainable development model.
In this complex and urgent scenario, the ecological transition stands out as a necessary and multi-dimensional pathway. At its heart beats the imperative of energy sustainability, a fundamental pillar for reversing course and building a more resilient and liveable future. Dependence on fossil fuels not only fuels climate change through greenhouse gas emissions, but also contributes to atmospheric pollution, with serious repercussions for human health, and to unstable geopolitics linked to access to limited resources.
The transition towards an energy system based on renewable sources – such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass – is no longer a choice, but an imperative.
These sources, intrinsically clean and inexhaustible, offer the promise of accessible, secure, and environmentally friendly energy. The goal of tripling renewable energy production by 2030 represents a crucial step in this direction, offering the promise of accessible, secure, and environmentally friendly energy. Investing in energy sustainability means not only mitigating the devastating impacts of climate change, but also promoting technological innovation, creating new economic opportunities, and improving the quality of life for present and future generations.
Earth Day annually reminds us of the importance of acting with determination and awareness. In this context, exploring environmental challenges, understanding the urgency of climate change, and embracing energy sustainability in all its forms becomes a crucial step towards building a future in which harmony between humankind and the planet is no longer an aspiration, but a concrete reality.
Drawing on extensive experience in local, European, and international cooperation, CESIE is deeply committed to promoting environmental sustainability and the ecological transition.
Together with Centro per lo Sviluppo Creativo Danilo Dolci – ETS, we have established LAND Impresa Sociale (LAND Social Enterprise), which operates with the aim of developing innovative projects and concrete actions for environmental protection, the dissemination of responsible energy practices, and the training of professional skills oriented towards reducing the environmental impact of human activities. For further information on LAND Impresa Sociale, please visit impresasocialeland.org.
Through a multidisciplinary approach and the creation of collaborative networks, LAND Impresa Sociale and CESIE ETS work daily to contribute to a future in which sustainability is a shared value and a widespread practice.
Specifically, here are some of CESIE’s initiatives focused on environmental issues
ABCinENERGY – New tools to monitor energy consumption
European HEIs need new tools to monitor their energy consumption in order to effectively implement new sustainability strategies. ABCinENERGY project responds to this need, providing the institutions involved with more power to act in this process, also highlighting the targets that need more involvement in the implementation of energy sustainability practices.
To achieve its objectives, partner HEIs will soon launch a survey among students and staff, to gauge their knowledge and habits in the field of energy sustainability; by the end of 2025, a platform will be developed to monitor energy consumption habits for all those who interact within the university hubs on a daily basis, the Habit Tracker Platform. Visit the project website https://www.abcinenergy.eu/, follow us on social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram), or contact Paula Goltzsche: paula.goltzsche@cesie.org
Ecoprise – Future-oriented social entrepreneurship through Ecovillage Design
Current global challenges highlight the urgent need for sustainable approaches in both lifestyles and production systems. Ecoprise intends to tackle this problem by introducing a new professional figure, the Ecoprise Designer, with expertise in promoting local regenerative development. Through collaboration between higher education institutions, vocational training providers, companies and non-profit associations, Ecoprise develops a course on eco-entrepreneurship, for future-oriented social entrepreneurship through the design of eco-villages. The course will be tested in autumn 2025 to ensure its effectiveness and transferability, while promoting professional interactions and peer learning opportunities.
Would you like to learn all the latest news about Ecoprise? Please contact Simona Palumbo: simona.palumbo@cesie.org or check the Ecoprise website.
Stay updated through Ecoprise social media channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram).
EVECSA – Building Collaborative Networks for Sustainable Agriculture
Agriculture, the bedrock of food security and economic development, now faces unprecedented challenges. Climate change, the depletion of natural resources, and increasing food demand are urging a radical shift towards more sustainable practices. In this scenario, Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) emerges as a crucial integrated approach to ensure the resilience of agri-food systems and employment in the sector, while addressing pressing environmental issues. The new report from the EVECSA project outlines the key steps for a transition towards resilient agriculture and underscores how the synergy between education, research, and business is pivotal for climate-smart farming. The report urges swift action to overcome the skills gap, dismantle infrastructural barriers, and calibrate practices to local specificities for a more sustainable agricultural future.
Want to delve deeper into strategies for climate-proof agriculture? For more information on the EVECSA report and its implications, contact Caterina Impastato, caterina.impastato@cesie.org or visit climatesmart4agri.eu and follow us on Facebook e Linkedin.
UpSpace – Growth spaces focused on Upcycling and Urban Regeneration
Preventing climate change requires a new cultural project that emphasises the role of education and training in promoting green skills and attitudes. UpSpace aims to integrate sustainable development into secondary school curricula, through policy cooperation and with key stakeholders, offering opportunities for skills application in workshops on upcycling and urban regeneration. International research on best practice in environmental education and national frameworks for sustainability has initiated the development of programmes for teachers and students which will be piloted in September in Greece and then in schools in partner countries.
For more information see the project fact sheet or contact Alice Schirosa: alice.schirosa@cesie.org
