For RFI, sustainability is the driver that directs corporate strategies, and accompanies the planning, implementation and management of the infrastructure system, contributing to the pursuit of the UN 2030 Agenda sustainable development goals (Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs) and the guidelines outlined by the European Green Deal, within the framework of European and national programmes.
Managing and developing the railway network according to principles of continuous efficiency, safety and accessibility improvement contributes to a more sustainable transport system, in which the rail network and the other means of collective transport integrated with it can attract increasing shares of traffic, reducing the social costs related to emissions, consumption of natural resources, accidents and congestion.
In fulfilling this mission, RFI focuses on impact reduction and on a rational use of resources. It is committed to the defence, regeneration and enhancement of the territory, and and its natural, social, economic, urban, architectural and historical-archaeological heritage, in line with the Environmental Policy, and in collaboration with all stakeholders.
Another central aspect is the introduction of product and process innovations, aimed at creating ever greater value for the community. This logic includes, for instance, the enhancement of those assets no longer used for railway operations, such as the use of station spaces for non-profit activities, the creation of biking trails and greenways, and the reactivation of lines no longer in use in areas of high historical and landscape value for tourist itineraries.
Aware of the key role that mobility - and the railway sector in particular - plays in the pursuit of sustainable development objectives, RFI has undertaken a concrete path to build an integrated sustainable infrastructure development model, thus consolidating an increasingly systemic and multidisciplinary approach to integrate sustainability at all stages. Therefore, RFI promotes projects and interventions aimed at achieving specific environmental, economic and social sustainability objectives, not only in relation to new scenarios of sustainable mobility, but also in the broader sense of creating opportunities for territorial cohesion, accessibility, attractiveness, gap reduction, improved quality of life and ecosystem services, and, more generally, to foster economic, social, cultural and tourist growth, while taking into consideration the environmental and landscape context of the territories in which the works are carried out. This path that has been further accelerated to support the role that the national Railway Infrastructure Manager is called upon to play in the Country's sustainable transition, particularly within the framework of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), with major infrastructure investments for the sustainable mobility of people and goods, to be achieved by the end of 2026.
In 2024, the Company has set two new goals to strengthen the strategic and operational ESG (1) orientation of its management and investment initiatives. More specifically, on a more operational level, in order to integrate sustainability criteria and assessments into the development of infrastructure projects, the Company intends to continue the sustainability certification of its projects through recognised Sustainability Protocols. On a more strategic level, the Company aims to develop its own Climate Change Adaptation Plan (PACC RFI) by 2024, consistently with the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (NACCP) as a planning tool to manage the uncertainty of future climate prospects in a structured way, and systematise and implement measures and actions to strengthen the adaptive capacity of the railway infrastructure in a changing climate context.
With regard to last year's goals (2023), the targets set - geared towards strengthening corporate ESG governance and stakeholder engagement - were both achieved. In particular, the following documents were issued:
Note:
(1) Criteria for measuring and standardising an organisation's environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities.
| Indicator | Parameter | 2024 Target |
|---|---|---|
| Certification of Projects with Sustainability Protocols | commitment* | implementation |
| Climate Change Adaptation Plan (PACC RFI) | commitment* | implementation |
* Internal/third-party monitoring