The Sustainability Forum is back, with a focus on young people and businesses
On 29 October, Rome will host the event organised by *Il Sole 24 Ore* to mark the fifth edition of the Sustainable Business Award
Key points
The challenges associated with the green transition, innovation and competitiveness now require the involvement of all sectors of society, from the younger generations to the business world. With this aim in mind, the Sustainability Forum 2026 returns: the event, organised by Il Sole 24 Ore, will take place on 29 October at the Ennio Morricone Auditorium in Rome’s Parco della Musica, bringing together institutions, businesses, schools, experts and stakeholders for a day of discussion dedicated to the themes of sustainable development.
The event, scheduled from 10.00 to 18.30 and available both in person and via live stream, will be divided into two distinct but complementary sections: the ‘Focus on Young People’, dedicated to the role of the younger generations in building a fairer and more sustainable future, and the ‘Focus on Businesses’, which will explore the contribution of the business sector to the environmental, economic and social transition.
The morning will begin with talks by Alice Pomiato, an environmental sustainability content creator, and science communicator Gabriella Greison, who will guide the audience in a reflection on environmental challenges, the relationship between science, innovation and sustainability, and the role of knowledge as a driver of change. This will be followed by an interactive session led by Graziano Ciocca, science communicator at La Fabbrica, who will engage students in an exploration of Futures Thinking. The programme also includes an official address by the Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, and a talk by Father Enzo Fortunato, editor of the magazine *Piazza San Pietro*, columnist and writer, who will offer reflections on the values of human commitment, solidarity and responsibility towards future generations. The event will conclude with an interactive theatre performance by Francesco Giorda, a comic actor, which will engage the audience through humour and direct participation.
The Sustainable School Award
The morning’s programme will also include the awards ceremony for the second edition of the Sustainable School Award, an initiative dedicated to schools that stand out for their ability to effectively integrate sustainability into their curricula and day-to-day educational practice. Alessandro Greppi, Head of Sustainability & Purpose at Veolia Italia, will introduce the awards. The winning schools were selected by a jury chaired by Fabio Tamburini, Editor-in-Chief of *Il Sole 24 Ore*, and comprising Marina Brogi, Professor of the Economics of Financial Intermediaries at the University of Milan-Bicocca; Francesca Carbone, Director-General for Students, Inclusion, Guidance and the Fight against Early School Leaving at the Ministry of Education and Merit; Maria Carmela Colaiacovo, Chair of the Il Sole 24 Ore Group; Edoardo Garrone, Chair of ERG; and Emanuela Trentin, CEO of Veolia Italia.
Business Focus
The ‘Focus on Business’ session will be of particular significance, as it will turn the spotlight in the afternoon on the role of sustainability as a driver of growth, innovation and competitiveness. In an international landscape characterised by profound climate, geopolitical and regulatory changes, sustainability is, in fact, an increasingly strategic component for companies called upon to balance economic development, social responsibility and long-term value creation.
