Coal was our Life. The Green Transition and New Production Patterns

The contribution we present refers to the pressing need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as one of the main goals pursued by the European Union (EU) and by many single European states. Among the various factors that can facilitate the transition, wise use of the most recent technological innovations is necessary. Indeed, they only make sense if they improve people’s lives; thus, the misunderstanding of thinking that innovations (artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Internet of Things, etc.) are neutral and do not depend on public decisions should be avoided. The paper wishes to provide a reflection on the green transformation based not only on the observation of the European scenario. Indeed, a focus will be placed on Italy as a case study, with respect to the incidence of the green economy and the related transformations of the labour market, in particular through the lens of green patent companies and high-tech start-ups of the energy sector.