2021 Sustainability Report
(102-146)
LETTER TO THE STAKEHOLDERS 2021 was the European Year of Rail, as designated by the European Commission to promote sustainable mobility. A special Connecting Europe Express train crossed 26 European countries, including Italy, travelling 20,000 km and stopping in over 100 cities, to raise awareness about rail transport’s key role in reaching decarbonisation targets and underlining its contribution to bringing people and regions together and building relations to boost social and economic prosperity. 2021 also saw the UIC (International Union of Railways) represent the railway sector at the 26th Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, confirming the sector’s commitment to decarbonising the transport system. In conjunction with the event and organised by Avanti West Coast (a Trenitalia and FirstGroup joint venture), Eurostar, NS and Prorail and Youth for Sustainable Travel, the
Climate Train made its symbolic journey to Glasgow, bringing European and UK delegates to COP26 while providing a platform for seminars, meetings and debates on mobility and sustainability. These concerns are also the essence of the FS Italiane group’s idea of sustainability: offering an integrated, sustainable mobility ecosystem that guarantees prosperity, quality of life in harmony with nature, building transport works and services that create long-lasting, widespread value. The idea is to promote taking the train, more effectively integrating trains with other sustainable modes of transport, to make all areas of the country accessible and using roads for the last mile or where there is no railway. This is the natural evolution of the Group’s journey which continues to prioritise sustainability, boosted by its historical heritage and ex-
pertise. Demonstrating this commitment, the FS Italiane Group follows the directions of the European Green Deal, helps reach the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda, and is actively involved in creating an inclusive and sustainable global economy by integrating and supporting its strategy and day-to-day operations with the ten principles of the UN Global Compact. Only time will tell the full extent and long-term effects of this current period. However, as well as the economic repercussions and adjustments to daily habits, individual and social perceptions will undoubtedly be altered. 2021 was certainly a historic juncture, with many adversities faced but also results achieved and strong foundations laid to strength the Group’s broad range of operations. Roughly two years on from the outbreak of the pandemic, FS Italiane
6) The numbers in brackets after the title of each section refer to the KPI codes set out in the reporting standards adopted (GRI _ Global Reporting Initiative).
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