Rome Aims to Become ‘Water Capital’ with Bipartisan Support
ROME – On March 3, 2026, a significant step was taken towards redefining Rome’s relationship with its most vital resource: water. Following a morning of global reflections and civic identity discussions, the Capitoline Assembly formally voted to commit the city to the ‘Water Planet’ paradigm and to bid for the title of ‘Water Capital’.
The day commenced with the conference “Rome Capital – Water Planet,” promoted by the President of the Capitoline Assembly, Svetlana Celli, and held in the Giulio Cesare Hall. The event featured renowned economist and sociologist Jeremy Rifkin, author of the book “The Water Planet,” who delivered a keynote lecture emphasizing the necessity of rethinking humanity’s relationship with natural resources and development models, acknowledging our existence on a “water planet.”
Key Figures and Discussions
The conference saw participation from several prominent figures, including Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, Pollica’s Mayor Stefano Pisani (coordinator of the Water Municipalities network), and Venice’s Councillor Massimiliano De Marin. Video contributions were also presented by Naples’ Mayor Gaetano Manfredi and Genoa’s Mayor Silvia Salis. Valerio Lucciarini De Vincenti, President of Sustainable Municipalities, and Antonino Errigo, Secretary-General of the Laudato Si’ study center, were also present, with an introduction by journalist Riccardo Luna.
Capitoline Assembly’s Formal Commitment
In the afternoon, with Rifkin still in attendance, a thematic session of the Capitoline Assembly took place. Capitoline Councillors Sabrina Alfonsi, Ornella Segnalini, and Eugenio Patanè outlined the administration’s ongoing efforts in water resilience, climate adaptation, and infrastructural innovation.
The session concluded with the approval of a motion presented by President Celli. This motion formally commits the Mayor and the Council to reinforce the city’s dedication to the ‘Water Planet’ paradigm and the ‘Blue Deal’, to promote innovation and a culture of water, and to officially nominate Rome as the ‘Water Capital’.
“Today marks an important turning point for Rome. It was not just a moment of reflection, but the assumption of a clear and shared political commitment. With the approval of the motion, the Capitoline Assembly has chosen to recognize water as a central element of our public policies and to structurally orient future choices towards resilience, innovation, and sustainability,” stated Celli.
She added, “Rome is historically a city of water: from the Tiber to the aqueducts, to the sea. Today we reaffirm this identity, making water the cornerstone of territorial security, public health, and quality of life. We want Rome to be a leader in Italy and Europe in a new culture of water, capable of combining environmental vision, institutional responsibility, and attention to new generations.”
Nando Bonessio, group leader of EV – Alliance of Greens and Left for Roma Capitale, echoed these sentiments. “Rome chooses to place water, understood as a common good, at the center of every administrative action and every development strategy. It is a clear, courageous, and necessary political choice,” he declared.
Bonessio emphasized that the approved act obliges Rome to adopt and implement concrete measures to recognize water not as a commodity, but as a fundamental right and a natural infrastructure essential for life, public health, and territorial security. He highlighted the city’s existing commitment to water conservation policies, reduction of network losses, pollution control, and ecosystem protection. The newly approved measure further strengthens this direction, adopting the ‘Water Planet’ paradigm as a guiding principle for Capitoline policies, in the spirit of sustainability, environmental justice, and intergenerational equity.
Upcoming Initiatives
The journey continues on March 5 at the Auditorium Parco della Musica with the “Blue Awards 2026,” organized by the ANTER association and CETRI-TIRES. This initiative will award the best ideas for protecting water and the planetary hydrosphere suggested by Roman students, based on a comic book version of “Planet Aqua” created by artist Sara Roversi.
With the Assembly’s vote and the scheduled events, Rome embarks on a path that aims to link historical identity, environmental policies, and international vision under a single keyword: water.
Source: urloweb.com
