2024 has not been an easy year for the climate, neither in Italy nor in Europe. Global temperatures have reached new records, temporarily exceeding the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. In Italy, we have witnessed extreme weather events: the North has seen heavy rainfall, while the South has suffered from severe drought. Emilia-Romagna has not been spared either, with floods hitting the region hard, causing significant damage. However, while Parma is not immune to climate change, there has been some positive news in the city that gives us hope for the future.
City Climate Contract Parma presented the City Climate Contract on March 21, 2024, becoming one of the first Italian cities chosen by the European Commission to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
This contract involves 46 signatories between public and private institutions, with the aim of reducing emissions by 85% by 2030. The action plan includes 130 actions divided into five key sectors: energy, mobility, waste management, sustainable construction and citizen awareness.
From the Municipality of Parma
Sustainable mobility The City Council of Parma has approved the extension of the 30 Zones in several neighborhoods of the city to reduce vehicle speed, improve road safety and promote the use of bicycles and pedestrian transit. In addition, 2 million euros have been allocated by the PNRR for the construction of ten kilometers of new cycle paths, bringing the total to almost 160 km by 2026. Finally, contributions have been provided to incentivize the purchase of electric bicycles.
From the Municipality of Parma
Advanced separate waste collection The Iren Group has implemented an advanced separate waste collection system that has led Parma and 36 municipalities in the province to exceed 79% separate waste collection as early as 2023. This system uses containers with microchips for punctual charging, rewarding citizens who separate better and produce less waste. The initiatives adopted by Parma to improve waste management have been praised by the French newspaper Le Monde , which has indicated them as a model for other cities to follow.
Circular Economy Project The CIRGREEN project, which ended at the end of November 2024, promoted green and sustainable public procurement by developing guidelines for integrating circular economy principles into public procurement procedures. In addition, the Emilia-Romagna Region launched a call for non-repayable grants for companies investing in recycling and waste reduction technologies.
Energy Efficiency The University of Parma is completing an energy requalification project for its buildings, reducing energy consumption by 30% thanks to the installation of advanced insulation systems and solar panels.
Public Greenery In Parma, in 2024, 189 trees were planted for every new child born or adopted, as part of a regional initiative to promote the environment. During Tree Week, the Municipality regenerated a green area in the Montanara neighborhood, planting four oaks and installing two new benches. In addition, the "Prati fioriti" project was launched to protect urban biodiversity, reducing mowing in parks to encourage spontaneous flowering.
From the Municipality of Parma
Sustainable Fashion The event "Svegliamoci, Wake Up!" saw the collaboration between local companies and the Liceo classico Romagnosi for an upcycling project, using waste fabrics and recycled yarns to create new garments. In parallel, the project "The Creative Spot" at Fidenza Village supported young talents in sustainable fashion, who use recycled materials and low environmental impact production processes. Finally, the event "Green Fashion and Sustainability" organized by CNA Impresa Donna highlighted the importance of sustainable materials such as organic cotton and recycled polyester, promoting ecological production techniques such as natural dyeing and closed-loop production.
Public Water In 2024, the citizens of Parma saved almost 2 million plastic bottles thanks to the use of public "Water Houses". The five distributors in the city dispensed approximately 2,700,000 liters of water, tripling the results of 2023. This success was possible thanks to the free service, introduced in October 2023, which encouraged the use of public water and contributed to environmental sustainability.
From the Municipality of Parma
Sustainability Education For the 2024-2025 school year, the Sustainability Education Centers (Ceas) of Emilia-Romagna, including Arpae Parma, have launched new educational programs based on the objectives of Agenda 2030. These programs involve over 10,000 students in practical and theoretical activities, promoting conscious and responsible behaviors towards the environment.
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