Energy is environment
REA (Energy and Environment Review) is a new online scientific publication based on the idea of exploring the relationship between energy and the environment.
Energy choices have a decisive influence on the environmental balance of our planet and prompt reflection on our production and consumption models, as well as on the system of values that allows different interests to be reconciled.
Energy and environmental issues raise a variety of questions: from intergenerational justice to food production and distribution methods, to the effects that abandoning traditional energy sources (in particular the three fossil fuels: oil, coal and gas), which are primarily responsible for climate-altering gas emissions, global warming and deforestation, will have on our society.
A systematic approach is therefore essential for managing complex decisions that involve, on an increasing scale, not only technological variables but also socio-economic processes.
Publishing project
The Review aims to welcome contributions of a legal, economic and engineering nature, in the belief that an interdisciplinary approach is the best way to tackle the global challenges that lie ahead.
Publications will be reviewed by a Scientific Committee comprising experts in various fields.
The articles, which will initially only be available online on a website called www.rassegnaenergiambiente.it, will be published as soon as they are approved by the Scientific Committee.
If external contributions are received, the Scientific Committee will assess their relevance and pertinence to the contents of the Review and their scientific nature.
All texts will be in Italian with an English translation at the bottom or alongside.
The International Framework and Agreements on Climate Change
Our Review will focus on the role of states and multilateral initiatives in combating climate change.
The 2015 Paris Agreement marked a turning point, committing the international community to limiting the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
The COP 30 in Brazil provides an opportunity for an in-depth discussion on the effectiveness of current policies and the need for new initiatives to achieve shared goals.
Particular attention will also be paid to international cooperation mechanisms, as well as climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. The legal perspective will be intertwined with the economic and engineering perspectives to assess the sustainability and effectiveness of the proposed solutions.
Economic Prospects and Energy Transition
The transition to a sustainable energy system is a challenge that profoundly affects economic structures.
In this regard, it is important to be aware that ‘the complete decarbonisation of the global economy by 2050 is conceivable only at the cost of an unthinkable global economic recession or as a result of extraordinarily rapid transformations that would require almost miraculous technical advances’ (Vlacav Smil).
REA therefore aims to analyse the economic instruments needed to ensure the sustainability of the energy transition.
The journal will publish studies and research on the macroeconomic implications of the energy transition, the impact of environmental policies on employment, and growth opportunities linked to the green economy. The aim is to provide an up-to-date overview of the latest research in this field, with an approach that highlights the interconnections between the economic and ecological spheres.
The European framework and EU policies
The European Union is now an advanced laboratory for integrated energy and environmental policies. The European Green Deal, launched in December 2019, sets the ambitious goal of transforming the EU into a climate-neutral economy by 2050. This process, accompanied by the ‘Fit for 55’ package and the ‘REPowerEU’ plan, introduces innovative regulatory instruments that deserve analysis.
Our magazine will devote considerable space to the European regulatory framework, with a particular focus on European directives and regulations on the promotion of energy from renewable sources and the internal electricity market, as well as the role of European institutions in implementing these regulations and their impact on national systems.
The national regulatory framework and energy policies
The Italian legislator, especially in recent years (driven by the energy crisis resulting from the war in Ukraine), has also intervened mainly on issues relating to energy from renewable sources with the stated aim of accelerating the country’s sustainable growth path. Attempts have thus been made to redefine the rules governing support schemes for energy produced from renewable sources and to harmonise the legislation with economic intervention instruments, including those provided for in the PNRR.
The result is a complex system governed by various sources.
In our research, we also aim to focus closely on the Environmental Code, environmental and urban planning procedures and their connections with authorisation procedures for energy production.
With regard to national energy and environmental policies, the PNIEC (Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan 2030) is particularly important, as it is the fundamental instrument that Italy has adopted to implement the process towards decarbonisation.
The Review thus aims to verify the state of implementation of the PNIEC, given that, at present, the increase in overall renewable capacity in Italy is still less than about one-tenth of that estimated for achieving the objectives set by the PNIEC (source: Bank of Italy, Economic and Financial Issues, February 2025).
Without, of course, forgetting the analysis of the instruments (e.g. PNRR) through which to find the tools and resources to achieve the PNIEC’s objectives.
Conclusions and call for collaboration
REA addresses the Italian and international scientific and professional community, inviting the submission of original contributions that explore the multiple dimensions of the relationship between humans and nature and the implications of energy choices.
At a time in history when challenges require urgent and innovative responses, our journal aims to provide a space for critical reflection and scientific elaboration, contributing to public debate and the advancement of knowledge in this crucial sector.
We invite you to actively participate in this editorial project by sharing your research and participating in the dialogue that the journal aims to promote.
The Editorial Committee
Roberto Cornetta Andrea Fantappiè