ABSTRACT
The chapter examines the sustainable development of the Adriatic Sea and its coastal area through the analysis of Energy Strategies of the Republic of Croatia and Republic of Italy. Although each country has its own national policies with regard to environmental management as well as energy strategies and policies, the present chapter emphasizes the necessity of comparative analysis of countries like these that share large ecosystems, such as the Adriatic Sea, where the escalation of risk at one end means higher risk at the other. To begin with, the chapter looks at the concept of sustainable development within a wider socio-political context of its emergence and development. Sustainable development is defined in accordance with the Brundtland Commission’s definition, which explains it as the kind of development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In addition, for a more comprehensive understanding, the authors consider IUCN, UNEP and WWF’s definition, which sees sustainable development as a way of improving the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems. After a conceptual understanding, the main part of the chapter provides a comparative analysis of energy activities in Croatia and Italy through the lens of sustainable development of the Adriatic Sea and its coastal area. For clarity of understanding, firstly a comparison of energy profiles of these two countries is made. Next, it analyses their Policies for Sustainable Development as well as Energy Strategies. Finally, at the analysis level, a discussion on Croatian and Italian coastal and offshore activities in the Adriatic Sea is done in relation to the strategies mentioned above.
