The ecological transition is not only a technological challenge, but a paradigm shift that also needs to be popularized at the cultural level. Art, for example, is a powerful means of speaking to people and was the main focus of the EvolveArt competition, promoted by the Fondazione MAIRE - ETS and MAIRE Group together with the Association of Friends of the Art High School Biennial (ABiLiArt), with the support of the National Network of Art High Schools (ReNaLiArt). The competition concluded last May with an awards ceremony for the winners held at the Colosseum Archaeological Park.

The goal is to combine art, science and awareness to address some of the most pressing issues of our time – climate change, biodiversity loss, circular economy and energy transition – by entrusting them to the creativity of young people in all Italian art high schools. The winning works, united by the theme "technology and innovation in the energy transition," were exhibited at the first stage of the "EvolveArt roadshow" at the Bioparco in Rome. An opportunity for discussion during which students had the chance to exchange ideas on the subject with experts including Rudi Bressa, environmental journalist and author of the essay "Traffickers of Nature": his experience in dealing with the issues of wildlife trafficking and biodiversity protection offered a valuable contribution to the debate, showing how art and science can work together to create collective awareness.

Biodiversity, climate and species trafficking: "negative friends"

%The issues related to biodiversity and climate change, including wildlife trafficking which I discuss in my book, are hyperconnected and interrelated, & Bressa explains. "We should not view them as cause-and-effect: I, for example, view them as 'negative friends' that impact the whole process leading to biodiversity loss, of which wildlife trafficking is only a small part."

This phenomenon has profound effects on so-called ecosystem services, or the set of benefits that ecosystems provide to humanity, such as water purification, soil fertilization and climate regulation. "Every species on the Planet has a purpose because it has a specific place in which it has adapted over time and in that system, it has a specific role. When a single species goes missing, including through illegal trafficking or overexploitation of land, that system loses a component and its ecological functionality is compromised," adds Bressa, who emphasizes, "The most vulnerable segments of the population, especially in developing countries, are the ones who pay the highest price for this loss, adding further inequality to the climate crisis."

Art as a tool for awareness

The first stage of the "EvolveArt roadshow", which featured the exhibition of works in the Hall of the Elephants at the Bioparco in Rome, expanded scientific reflection by using the language of art to engage the public. For Bressa, this choice is particularly effective: "Participating in an event like EvolveArt roadshow stimulated my curiosity because the issue of illegal wildlife trafficking is not unrelated to the others: it is all connected. Initiatives like these serve to create awareness about what is happening in our country, and in Europe. These are not distant happenings, and using art and talking to the younger generation is an effective way to reach more people."

The works presented during the event gave shape to complex concepts, such as the idea of climate justice, the value of biodiversity and the urgency of rethinking our relationship with the environment. Through photographic installations, art became the vehicle for a message of hope, but also one of responsibility.

Responsibility toward the next generation

As journalist Bressa, who is an expert on the exposure of environmental issues, points out, talking to young people is crucial: "It is not necessarily the case that the next generation will automatically be better prepared for what is to come and the world that we adults have helped build, even in its negative aspects. We have a responsibility to them. " The very speed with which technologies are transforming society, Bressa points out, plays an important role: "Using technology is a challenge and, at the same time, an opportunity to raise awareness of crucial issues such as climate and social justice among the youth of today."

Through projects like EvolveArt, the Fondazione MAIRE - ETS demonstrates how it is possible to address these challenges in innovative ways, actively involving young people and offering them tools to understand and act. "The speed with which technology is changing our lives is disruptive, so we need to keep up and use it to our benefit. In order to create awareness about both climate and social justice," Bressa concludes.