Page 20 - Supplemento 2-2016 (ENG)

hon. paolo gentiloni

for reasons connected to climate change will only worsen. In this moment we
have 28 million Africans whose survival is threatened by the consequences of
El Nino. We have small islands in the Caribbean and in the Pacific, (Minister
Galletti has been working on the problem in recent months), whose survival is
threatened by climate change. There is a World Bank study on the effects of cli-
mate change on migration. We are talking about a theme that is on the interna-
tional agenda. This, therefore, is yet another reason for us to tackle the risks
that lie before us.

Let me conclude by underlining the particular attention we must pay to
the issue in its entirety, if we look to future decades, to Africa, because Africa,
the continent before us that will have 2 billion 400 million inhabitants in 2050,
is the challenge to be faced today. I am glad to see high-ranking Somali officers,
who are collaborating with the Carabinieri Officers School, here with us at the
conference today. We must work together with Africa because the development
model for Africa is being decided today. There are 600 million Africans who do
not have efficient electrical systems. How do we respond to this demand for
energy? With sustainable, renewable energies or with the choices regarding
energy that Europe and industrialized nations made in the course of the last
century? What will be the consequences of the motorization and urbanization
of this great continent? It is a challenge to be faced today and a county like Italy
can make a great contribution. I am pleased to announce that on May 18th, in
the Farnesina, we will host, for the first time in the history of Italian diplomacy,
an Italy-Africa ministerial conference which will be attended by the majority of
Foreign Ministers from African countries. The issue of the environment will be
one of the central themes in this debate between Africa and Italy.

Italy has many arrows in its bow with regard to these issues, ranging from
renewability to the green economy. The work of our law enforcement agencies
in the suppression of environmental crimes, the legislation, the activity of the
judiciary in this field present many examples of best practice to be shared on
an international level. I am convinced that this conference can make a contri-
bution towards this purpose and will be able to make our country, which is loo-
king ahead to the future, stronger and more credible. Thank you.

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