EARTHDAY 2000 

The world conference on environment, held by U.N.O. in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 involved all member Nations in adopting environmental action plans at a national and local level.

The European Conference held in Aalborg in 1994, gave the start to the European Sustainable Cities and Towns Campaign, joined by numerous European cities, as well as Palermo. It engaged local authorities in the starting up of an environmental qualification process called Local Agenda 21.

Palermo City Council, thanks to environmental care programmes and to the development of renewable energies promoted by the Ministry of Environment, pledged its engagement in the realisation of a number of projects aiming at energy saving and environmental care.

Actions, including the improvement of plants energetic efficiency and solar energy exploitation, have been set within the new Municipal Energy Plan (M.E.P.).

Law no. 10/91, as a matter of fact, states that General Master Plans regarding those Municipalities with a population of over 50,000 inhabitans, must include a specific plan at a municipal level concerning, among other issues, the use of renewable sources of energy.

M.E.P.'s main task aims at the integration of the "energy" factor in the urban planning, pointing out strategical choices in order to improve cities' environment and to promote the rational use of sources towards a sustainable urban development. One of its principal objectives is the rationalization of the use of energy and the development of renewable sources both in the public and the private sector.

Energy ambient planning of territory, not only corresponds to a law request but it also represents an important opportunity within the framework of national and European directives and funds. In this direction, the Ministry of Environment in agreement with the Ministry of Industry, approved a document which points out some strategic objectives that local authorities must achieve.

 Some of them are:

-         10% reduction of polluting gases (COČ) emission compared to 1990 by 2010.

-         doubling the use of renewable sources by 2010 shifting from 6% to 12% of    national energy amount.

-         over 15% of electrical energy savings by 2010 (equal to 45 TWh) compared to   the present  national electric consumption.

Municipal Energetic  Plan can be summarized as follows:

-         Territorial Planning: demographic growth, building patrimony, economic activities in the city.

-         Energy Balance: energy sales analysis, energy demand and offer analysis per energy source and sector.

-         Analysis of thermic final use in the private sector: energy need rating, district energy balance, typolagies of intervention, energy saving potential, economic analysis.

-         Analysis of solar energy potential;

      -         Energy-ambient evaluation of urban waste recycling.

-         Analysis of innovative technologies: cogeneration, heating and cooling  network

-         Analysis of greenhouse gas emission. Emission balance in 1990 and in 1996,  emission scenarios of evolution.

-         Draft of new regulations to be included within "Operating Technical  Regulations" and the "Building Planning of the General Master Plan".

The programme of interventions for Environment care turned its attention to air and noise pollution caused by private car traffic.

Concentrations of main polluting elements, benzene in particular, have reached, today, unacceptable levels for health an efficient monitoring system on environmental pollution, at present made up of  7 air pollution testing stations, continuously analyzing the air according to the following parameters:

-         Carbon Oxide (CO)

-         Nitrogen Oxide (NO)

-         Nitrogen Dioxide (NOČ)

-          Dust, breathable portion (PM 10)

-         Average value per hour of noise level.

Stations are managed by the Public Utility for Environmental Care and Waste, to survey benzene level through testing campaigns with "passive samplers". These are essentially made of active carbon which allow the accumulation of benzene during throughout the period of survey. Through apt lab analyses, the average values of polluting concentrations are defined in the different sites of survey. Moreover, the monitoring network is being completed with proper instruments capable of continuously testing benzene.

Studies and projects carried out by the "Ambient Group" and the" Mobility Group", both part of Urban Planning Aldermanship, together with Public Utilities, have lead to the drafting of the "Annual Repart of Air Quality" and to the definition of those measures able to achieve the quality objectives decided by the Ministry of Environment.

In particular, the carrying out of the Zeus European project - Zero and Low Emission vehicles in Urban Society - is an example of the City Administration's engagement in sustainable urban development. The introduction of environmentally friendly means of transport (electric cars and scooters and gas-fuelled buses), the realization of the first methane and eletric energy stations with solar photovoltaic systems, the opening of two parking areas for electric cars rental with a car sharing system are only some of the actions carried out towards energy saving and environmental care in our City.