Sustainable mobility, safety, zero emissions (carbon neutrality). FS Italiane presented the 2030-2050 sustainability report and objectives in Rome, a document that plans to achieve 5 of the 17 goals established by the United Nations: “improve the sustainability of infrastructures; promote innovation and industrialization; make cities inclusive, safe, durable; fight climate change; boost economic growth and employment; strengthen global partnerships to support sustainable development,” the company said in a statement.
Present at the event were Danilo Toninelli, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Gianluigi Castelli, President of FS Italiane, and Gianfranco Battisti, Chief Executive Officer of the group.
MOBILITY, SAFETY, EMISSIONS
Going into the details of the new plan, FS Italiane aims to increase the number of passengers, encouraging citizens to leave their private car behind and opt for public transport. According to data from the National Account for Infrastructure and Transport, in 2015 around 77% of people used a private car and only 17,5% used other more eco-sustainable means such as trains, trams, cable cars, urban and extra-urban transport .
However, sustainable mobility does not only concern people but also goods. In this context, the group led by Gianfranco Battisti aims to transfer 50% of freight transport to rail by 2050. In terms of safety, however, the aim is to reset "by 2050 fatal events among the people who choose the Group's vehicles for their travels, among its own employees, those of contractor companies and among the people who interact with the railway system. By 2030, fatal accidents on the roads under Anas' responsibility will have to be reduced by 50% compared to 2015”, the group announces.
From an environmental point of view, however, the main objective is to become, over a thirty-year horizon, carbon neutral with reference to both purchased and self-produced energy by Group companies (including energy from rail and road traction) and used for fixed plants (workshops, stations, offices, tunnels, roads).
THE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
During the presentation, FS summarized what has been done in the last 10 years, from 2008 to 2018: “over 55 billion euros invested to improve infrastructure and services; about 20 million tons of CO2 fewer emissions into the atmosphere, with people choosing the train instead of the private car; 18,5 million hours saved for 25% shorter travel times, thanks to high speed; 80 billion euros distributed to stakeholder (purchase of goods and services, payment of salaries, remuneration to lenders and payment of taxes and fees").
The investments made, explains Ferrovie again, aimed above all at transform stations into intermodal hubs and to enhance the safety of employees and passengers. Objective achieved, given that "in 2018 accidents on the national railway network decreased by 75% compared to 2008, with 70% fewer accidents at work and a 50% lower incidence rate", says the company.
At this juncture, the company has also focused on sustainable finance, becoming the first railway operator in Europe to issue green bond for the purchase of new trains with high energy efficiency and with recyclability percentages higher than 90%. On July 5, the company returned to the bond market with un second green bond with a nominal value of 700 million and a duration of 7 years. Demand was 3,5 times supply, for 2,5 billion orders.
