Italy and the United States are expanding their environmental cooperation through a new three-year agreement that will bring Italian experience from the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics into preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Games.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Houston on September 15 by Italy’s Deputy Minister of the Environment and Energy Security Vannia Gava and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin during the G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial.
The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation and information sharing between the 2 countries, focusing on practical environmental challenges connected with major events. Key areas include reducing food loss and waste, increasing recycling, expanding water reuse and developing circular economy strategies.
A major element of the partnership is the transfer of knowledge between 2 Olympic host countries. After Italy hosted the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games, the EPA is looking to Italian experience and practices as the United States prepares for Los Angeles 2028.
The collaboration is designed to extend beyond individual sporting events. Italy and the U.S. plan to exchange technical expertise and practical solutions that can benefit public authorities, businesses, communities and major-event organizers.
The agreement will remain in effect for 3 years, creating a structured channel for continued cooperation between Italy’s Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and the EPA.
The Houston signing adds another concrete dimension to the relationship between Italy and the United States. By connecting the experience of Milano Cortina 2026 with preparations for Los Angeles 2028, the 2 countries are turning major international events into an opportunity to share expertise, test solutions and strengthen bilateral cooperation.
