A Zero-Impact G8
As a sign of the determination to impart a fresh boost to areas struck by the earthquake on 6 April, the Italian Cabinet proposed to shift the upcoming G8 Summit from the island of La Maddalena, in Sardinia, to Abruzzo.
In the next few days the website will be gradually updated on the new events.
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The Materials
When erecting new buildings and facilities, the local tradition of working with materials available on the spot has been adopted, making considerable use of granite and schistose stones, which are used for facing reinforced concrete. The defence works were built in the same way in past ages, with the result – which was then important for military purposes – that they were better camouflaged and blended into the islands' rocky landscape. This technique now makes it possible to employ technologies that cut the buildings' power consumption while at the same time remaining in tune with the local landscape.
Transport
The main focus will be on electric-traction vehicles for transport requirements as well. This will be the case in the event's central area in particular, where hybrid boat models currently being built by Italian shipyards will be having their first outing. Indeed, the G8 sets out to foster the growth of tourism-related businesses in the archipelago, pointing the way to environment-compatible development.
Despite every endeavour, it is already foreseen that the transport requirements of the thousands of people involved in the event will take the CO2 and other greenhouse gas emission balance into the red. The precise amount will be calculated with a view to offsetting it and bringing the G8's environmental balance back to zero by planting new trees, some in Sardinia itself and the others in Sub-Saharan Africa: a logical step for an event that brings together countries from all over the world in a quest for effective ways of reducing the current imbalances among the various peoples' living standards and lifestyles.
The Power Sources
Great care is being taken over the power supply. The G8 will make the greatest possible use of renewable energy sources, such as solar power, which will contribute, in the future, to a power self-sufficiency project for La Maddalena. Electricity consumption peaks are forecast on the main days of the event, not least in view of the demand created by the many television crews that will be converging on the G8 venue from all quarters of the world. This consumption will largely be covered by an under-water power cable that will being electricity to the island from the Gallura area on the Sardinian coast.
Waste Management
Particular attention is being paid to waste cycle management. The inhabited islands already have a pre-sorted waste collection system up and running pursuant to measures promptly adopted by the local council and the reserve board. The intention is to reach optimum pre-sorted collection levels for the G8. Even now, all the waste material generated by the building, restoration and conversion work on the premises to be used for the G8 is being taken to licensed facilities in place in Sardinia. The G8 will leave neither rubble nor rubbish of any sort behind.
