A comparative study between Lombardy and the main “engine” regions of Europe highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the territory’s economic, environmental, and social sustainability, offering an updated snapshot of its performance relative to Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and Catalonia.
Sustainability in Lombardy represents a crucial challenge, not only for the region itself but for the entire country, given its strategic role in the Italian economy. The study conducted by Assolombarda’s Research Center compared Lombardy’s performance with that of other major European regions—Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and Catalonia—across the three key pillars of sustainability: economic, environmental, and social.
From an economic perspective, Lombardy stands out for its productivity, growth, and internationalization. The regional GDP grew by 12.3% over the past ten years, ranking second among the regions analyzed, while its per capita GDP is very close to the levels seen in the German regions. Export performance has also been strong, with a 47.2% increase between 2015 and 2024. However, the labor market shows some weaknesses: while the unemployment rate is at a historic low (3.7% in 2024), the labor force participation rate remains below the benchmark regions, indicating considerable room for improvement. Gross fixed capital investment rose by 58.9%, but spending on research and development remains limited (1.17% of GDP), as do the number of patents and employment in high-tech sectors.
From an environmental standpoint, Lombardy has achieved positive results in reducing energy consumption and increasing energy productivity. However, the share of energy from renewable sources remains low, and per capita greenhouse gas emissions are still high, despite significant reductions in the industrial sector. One area of excellence is waste separation, which reached 73.9% in 2023, outperforming all other regions in the comparison. Water quality is good, while air quality remains a critical issue, with pollutant concentrations above the average.
Regarding social sustainability, Lombardy shows encouraging data: it has the lowest share of population at risk of poverty or social exclusion (14.1%) and a very low long-term unemployment rate. Life expectancy reached 84.3 years in 2023, and infant mortality is among the lowest. The education system has also improved, with a decrease in school dropout rates. However, the share of young graduates remains lower than in other European regions and needs further attention.
Overall, Lombardy proves to be a solid and dynamic region, with areas of excellence and others in need of improvement. The comparison with Europe’s leading regions helps identify priorities and opportunities for a more sustainable development path.
