The side event intends to disclose the valuable results of EXPO Milano 2015 to the UNEA participants, in order to present its “material” and “immaterial” legacy to the international community and deliver its “model” for the next Universal Expositions (i.e.Astana 2017, Dubai2020).
The Universal Exposition 2015 has been hosted in Milan, Italy, from May to October 2015. Its general focus was on the theme: “Feeding the Planet: Energy for life”. The event represented an extraordinary opportunity to spread the sustainability principles linked to food production as well as to all sustainable related aspects of the event itself.
The Milan exposition involved more than 150 participants, among countries, international organizations, corporations and non-governmental organizations. All participants had the chance to make a real contribution not only to the Expo theme but also to the success of the event itself, making it a significant space for the exchange of experience, innovation and best practices.
In this context, a collaboration between the Italian Ministry for Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS) and the company Expo 2015 has been set up through a three year partnership agreement (2013-2016) with the overall goal to promote a “strategy for sustainability of mega events” that, starting from the Expo Milano 2015 case study, developed a model for future big events internationally planned. Expo 2015, indeed, since the very beginning has declared its commitment to leave a positive legacy for the environment and allowed a small-scale test on the engagement of all stakeholders to this end.
The event provides an opportunity to discuss the principles of sustainability related to a mega event as EXPO Milano 2015, examining the concrete best practices, innovative initiatives and good examples to follow up. Two main focuses will be also addressed: the results of sustainability for temporary buildings, as “material legacy” and best practice; the Milan charter, on the right to food as a fundamental human right, and the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, on the engagement of world cities to the development of sustainable and fair food systems, as “immaterial legacy” and best policy. The strategy for sustainability of mega events will be addressed in the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development targets, with a specific link to the sustainable production and consumption model, recognizing that, a fundamental change in the way society consume and produce, is indispensable for achieving global sustainable development.
The event will be also the occasion to present: The EXPO we learned. A legacy of a big event through the lens of circular economy. It is a scientific technical book on the sustainability assessment of Expo Milano 2015, recalling what has been achieved in terms of actual best practices and lessons learned, with focus on temporary buildings; green procurement of products; waste management. The book is the result of the collaboration between the Italian Ministry for the Environment and Expo 2015, with the technical support of the Politecnico di Milano University and the Center for Research on Energy and Environmental Economics and Policy (IEFE) of Bocconi University.
(in the picture the main speakers, from the left: Matteo Zanchi, Claudia Sorlini, Gloria Zavatta, Barbara Degani, Achim Steiner, Giovanni Brunelli)
