92% of Italians favor green economy

(ANSA) - Rome, June 22 - A majority of Italians, or 92%, favor a green, circular economy with zero waste and total recycling, according to a new survey out Wednesday.
    The survey of 1,000 people carried out between June 6-9 showed 35% of respondents are concerned about the environment and believe structural investments - such as would be necessary to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energies - are needed to stem ecological degradation.
    Another 57% said it is up to citizens to care for the environment, 50% said they have been adequately informed about recycling, and 93% of those who separate their trash for recycling said they do so because it's the right thing to do.
    Respondents said the most pressing threats to the environment come from air pollution (44%), industrial pollution of water, land and air (34%), pollution in general and climate change (30%) and inefficient waste management (28%). Rossella Muroni from Legambiente environmentalist group hailed the data.
    "Our country is already...investing in a circular economy, with growing progress," she said.
    "We produce 42 tonnes of waste per every million euros of GDP - compared to 65 tonnes produced by Germany - even though the situation varies from region to region," Muroni said.