Life on the planet is at serious risk. Coastal cities shudder at the prospect of being swallowed by the sea. Heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense, killing thousands of people each year. In some regions, temperatures could reach 50 degrees or more, making them unbearable for human life. Droughts spread across the globe, causing water shortages and famines. We are in the midst of a mass extinction of species and a loss of biodiversity that threatens ecosystems and food security. The Earth needs urgent solutions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Some of the most innovative proposals will be presented at the Environment and Sustainability Forum (FSMS) 2024, which will be held from the 18th to June 20 at Ifema Madrid. The event is a transversal call that brings together three exhibitions: the twenty-first International Urban Planning and Environment Fair (Tecma), the oldest; the eighth International Recovery and Recycling Fair (SRR); and the sixth Madrid Cities Forum. “It is a solidly consolidated call, so we reissue the spaces, conferences and forums that we have been organizing in each edition and that help to value the urban planning and recycling sector,” says David Moneo, director of FSMS. “It is going to be a record edition of participation,” highlights the representative of Ifema Madrid. In total, almost 290 companies will be present, 8% more than the previous edition in 2022. There will be much more exhibition space and representatives from 60 cities, more than 200 speakers and 30 sector associations will attend. “Figures that will consolidate the positioning of FSMS, which is now in its fifth edition, as the largest environment, sustainability and circular economy event in southern Europe.” The meeting has a very defined profile: it is aimed at all agents involved in the urban planning, environment and recovery and recycling sectors, including those responsible for the organizations and institutions that play a role in these areas. “Each edition of FSMS is different from the previous one, since in terms of sustainability each year the latest developments in technology, machinery, ideas and projects are presented focused on a sustainable development model, in accordance with the principles of a circular economy and a life model respectful of the environment,” he warns. Therefore, he says, this meeting turns Madrid into the European capital of sustainability for a week. And the country's commitment to this issue is unique. “Spain is determined to move towards a circular economy model and has opted to promote climate neutrality,” says the representative of the consortium. In relation to recycling, one of the factors that best serves to measure the circularity rate within In the eurozone, the country is in leading positions in the rates of different waste flows managed by private companies. “Both the political measures adopted and the essential contribution made by the recycling industry through its continuous investments in R&D&I place us in a scenario in which the commitment to sustainability and the circular economy can no longer be reversed. ”says Moneo. The involvement and strength of all the agents involved in this transition that has already begun from a linear to a circular economy model, including citizens, will mark the speed at which we will complete this change, which is committed to sustainable development. “The present tells us that we are on the right path. In this FSMS all those aspects on which we must focus to promote circularity will be analyzed in detail. Added to this are disruptive proposals, which will take up most of the conversations and exhibitions. “Technology is clearly a great ally to accelerate this change in the economic model,” says Moneo, who explains that this new call will have a notable influx of visitors. “Specifically, we anticipate more than 15,000 professionals.” The automation of processes, big data and artificial intelligence will be key to moving faster in the process towards the new economy, explains the expert. However, in parallel, this enormous investment that all sectors and industries related to sustainability must make must be accompanied and sustained by regulations and political measures that promote this great transformation, such as, for example, consolidating the principle of waste hierarchy, put eco-design first, prioritize the use of recycled materials or establish green public procurement.
Three great meetings
Tecma is aimed at professionals interested in obtaining a detailed vision of the market in elements, such as garbage containers and urban waste. Recycling companies also have a prominent presence, showing the latest developments in the sector, especially in the field of industrial recycling. In this edition, for example, attendees will be able to see state-of-the-art road sweepers, digitalization systems for urban services dedicated to municipalities, associations and regions, as well as RFID waste container identification systems. They will also highlight the tools that They help carry out exhaustive day-to-day control of garbage collection and street cleaning, intelligent composting systems and circular economy, as well as various proposals for furniture for parks in cities. SRR, for its part, It is the main call in Spain for the circular economy sector and its objective is to develop sustainable solutions that build a better future, minimizing the environmental impact and promoting the efficient use of resources. In addition to the companies' presentation, current topics will be addressed such as generational change in family businesses, talent management in times of uncertainty, the future of recycling (digitalization, automation, collaboration between companies and other aspects of company 5.0) and the instability of the markets. Added to these two calls is the sixth edition of the Madrid Cities Forum, which will address the main urban challenges from the perspective of new economies and strategies that facilitate changes in planning, decarbonization, circularity, digitalization , solutions based on nature, social innovation and new sustainable mobilities. Follow all the Economy and Business information on Facebook and xor in our weekly newsletter