Safe, secure, sustainable and affordable energy is the key to future growth and prosperity. Satisfying this need involves encouraging the efficient use of energy and identifying energy technologies, both existing and emerging, capable of strengthening security of supply and sustainability at a relatively low cost. Such difficult goals can be achieved only through public awareness of energy efficiency, energy consumption and environmentally sustainable energy solutions. In this framework, the mission of the Department of Energy and Environment is
- to advance understanding of energy and environmental issues;
- to disseminate knowledge of energy systems, with particular emphasis on those systems which enable the energy needs of society to be met sustainably;
- to evaluate potential reductions in fossil fuel consumption, and related environmental impact, due to improvements in energy efficiency and increased contributions of renewable energy;
- to ensure unbiased information on key energy and environmental issues;
- to provide educational opportunities in energy and environmental fields through seminars, technical publications and online activities (downloads, in Italian).
Core values of the Department of Energy and Environment are:
- independence, answerable only to good science and public benefit;
- transparency, based on data evaluation and information sharing;
- respect, shown in recognizing diversity of ideas and people;
- internationalism of CISM, reflecting both the global and local nature of energy and environmental issues.
Services provided by the Department of Energy and Environment include:
- knowledge transfer;
- advice to industries on energy saving;
- advice to local authorities on energy and environmental issues, and
- coordination with international centres and institutes.
Activities Planned for 2026
The primary focus will be the production of the educational e-book Meteorological Fundamentals of Climatology. The text will be written in clear, accessible language, emphasizing explanations based on fundamental physical principles rather than advanced mathematics. The material will draw from the previously published notes in the DEA Download Section, reorganized to eliminate redundancies and expanded where necessary to enhance clarity and coherence.
This project is motivated by the current global context, in which the transition to a sustainable energy system has slowed considerably, while the frequency of weather-related disasters continues to increase. It is therefore crucial for non-specialists to understand the basic mechanisms driving meteorological phenomena to understand what is going on. Unfortunately, most meteorology textbooks are designed for specialists, and public communications by meteorologists in the media tend to focus on isolated topics without providing a broader conceptual framework.
The proposed e-book, will be freely available in the DEA Department’s Download Section, and it is intended to offer a comprehensive yet accessible introduction to the fundamental principles of meteorology and their relevance to climate change.