It has become a staple in the calendar for Confindustria Veneto Est, which represents entrepreneurs from Padua, Rovigo, Treviso, and Venice. Now in its fifth year, "Sustainability Week" aims to foster dialogue and the exchange of ideas between businesses, schools, research centres, start-ups, and local public administrations.
The main event will take place in Mogliano Veneto from 17 to 20 March, though a preview was held on Thursday, 5 March, at the Santa Caterina Museum auditorium in Treviso. This featured the performance "Oltre il petrolio" (Beyond Oil), written and performed by Patrizio Roversi. The theatrical narrative combined travel footage, live music, and storytelling to examine well-known environmental disasters without resorting to doom-mongering, using a touch of irony to share stories of crisis alongside international cooperation and hope for the future.
The objective of this four-day programme of meetings, workshops, and discussions is to systematically address sustainability across its three pillars—environmental, social, and economic—while sharing best practices, defining a common language, and launching new collaborations.
In a current climate overshadowed by war and its economic and social repercussions, sustainability might seem off-topic or even irrelevant. Does it still make sense to talk about it? We believe it does. In fact, we are convinced that in certain areas, it is more vital than ever. What has changed is the reason why. Sustainability is no longer just about "values" or "reputation"; it is increasingly about security, resilience, and competitiveness.
Recent crises and conflicts have highlighted how dependence on fossil fuels (and imports) exposes nations—including Italy—to price shocks. This has led to a fundamental rethink of the need for an energy security strategy based on renewable sources. The same applies to the climate, which certainly does not "wait in the wings" for geopolitics to settle. Extreme weather events, infrastructure damage, water stress, and impacts on agriculture and health continue to escalate. Choosing to ignore them only serves to increase the eventual costs, including those of a social nature. It is no coincidence that COP30 recognised the current global context as "stormy", while reaffirming the necessity for continued climate cooperation.
Programme and registration can be found at: https://settimanadellasostenibilita.it/programma-2026/
