Abstract

A durable economic progress can take place only if environmental sustainability of industrial activities improves. The purpose of this paper is to reconsider the structural and policy changes that could ensure growth and competitiveness in a scenario in which environmental constraints represent the major concern. More specifically, we suggest to focus on two relevant questions: first, the reorganisation (above all in terms of sectoral interdependence) that our production system is undergoing as a consequence of our manufacturing firms' strategic responses; secondly, the strategies and investment decisions planned by firms operating at different stages of the energy vertical chain and in related green industries. Even though at a preliminary level, some policy implications are proposed.