ON SEPTEMBER 17 AND 18, 2024, ROME WILL HOLD THE SECOND EDITION OF “ECO”, THE FESTIVAL OF SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY AND INTELLIGENT CITIES. AN IMPORTANT EVENT TO EXPLORE THE FUTURE OF MOBILITY AND THE ECOLOGICAL TRANSITION IN ITALY
The ECO Festival 2024: a laboratory of ideas for a sustainable future in Rome
Nowadays Roma is the nerve center of reflection on the future of mobility and ecological transition, thanks to the second edition of “ECO”il Festival of sustainable mobility and smart cities.
The event, which started today and ends tomorrow, takes place onRoman aquarium of the Esquilino district, in Piazza Manfredo Fanti. Also known as “House of Architecture“The building was originally designed in 1887 to house an aquarium, but over time it has grown into an important center for cultural events.
The choice of this location symbolizes the unity between Rome’s historic past and the new challenges of the future. In short, a perfect setting for discussing topics such as smart mobility and the sustainability of cities.
Objectives of the ECO Festival of Rome
One of the festival’s main objectives is to encourage collaboration between the public and private sectors to achieve important goalsintermodality of transport and the adoption of integrated systems such as MAAS (Mobility as a Service): two fundamental pillars in the transformation of urban and inter-city mobility towards a more efficient, sustainable and flexible model.
In concrete terms, intermodality is a process that allows the combined use of multiple transport modes within a single route, offering an optimal solution compared to the traditional exclusive use of a single vehicle.
For example, a commuter might ride a bicycle to a station, travel by train for part of the journey, and then use a bus to reach the final destination. This approach proves to be fundamental in modern cities, where integration between public, private and sustainable transport becomes essential reduce traffic and CO₂ emissions.
In a well-functioning intermodal system, the various transportation infrastructures – such as interchange parking lots, train stations, bus stops and cycle paths – are connected and designed to minimize transit times between one vehicle and another. This approach not only improves convenience for travelers, but also reduces car use.
Mobility as a Service (MAAS)
The concept of Mobility as a service (MAAS) represents a further step towards the digitalization and integration of transport services. MAAS refers to the adoption of digital platforms that allow users to plan, book and pay for various transportation services through a single interface. In other words, MAAS brings together different mobility options – such as cars, bicycles, electric scooters, car sharing, buses and trains – into an integrated system that allows you to choose the most efficient combination based on the user’s specific needs.
This approach is particularly innovative as it focuses on service rather than vehicle ownership, promoting models of shared and sustainable mobility and reducing dependence on private vehicles.
Road safety and the role of young people in sustainable mobility: other main themes of the ECO Festival
During the ECO Festival of Sustainable Mobility and Smart Cities, an important part of the discussions will be devoted to road safety and the promotion of virtuous practices at community level. It is not only about the introduction of new technologies or innovative solutions in the transport sector, but also about to raise people towards a safer and more conscious mobility culture.
This change must not only concern the tools we use, but also the way we live and move, promoting responsible and supportive behavior capable of improving the quality of urban life for all citizens.
Another important moment of the event is the presentation of the research “Young people and sustainable mobility”, created in collaboration with the platform Skuola.net. This study will provide a snapshot of the opinions, expectations and priorities of new generations regarding the future of mobility.
The direct involvement of young people in this analysis is fundamental, as they represent the main actors of future changes. The survey will not only examine the level of knowledge and awareness on the subject sustainabilitybut also the solutions and innovations that new generations want to see implemented. But now let’s delve deeper into the two key concepts of the event.
Sustainable mobility: a necessary change for the future
The concept of sustainable mobility emerged in the 1990s in response to growing awareness of the industry’s impact on the environment. The underlying idea involves a radical transformation and reorganization of the transport system and the cities, which can contribute to this a more balanced and green urban development.
This vision promotes the adoption of alternative and ecological means of transport, such as bicycles, electric or hybrid vehicles, and shared mobility models, including car sharing and bicycle sharing.
The ecological transition: beyond mobility to a greener future
The ecological transition it is an even broader concept, which goes beyond the transport sector and aims to transform the entire economic and social system in a sustainable way. It stems from the need to tackle the global climate and environmental crisis through promotion an economy that reduces greenhouse gas emissionsminimizing the consumption of natural resources and promoting respect for the environment.
In Europe this vision took shape thanks to the Green Deal EuropeAnd “green pact‘, which aims to make the continent climate neutral by 2050. This means that the European economy must produce net zero CO2 emissions, through a mix of policy measures that include energy savings, the use of renewable sources and the promotion of clean technologies.
Happy ECO Festival 2024
In short, the ECO Festival 2024 represents an important moment of reflection and discussion on the challenges related to mobility and the ecological transition, not only from a technological but also from a cultural point of view. In an ever-changing world, these types of events are of fundamental importance Promoting conscious and shared change.
In Rome, unity is strength
Organized under the protection of Ministry of the Environment and Energy Safety and from Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportinvolving institutions, experts and civil society. Participants include big names from the industrial scene such as ENEL, Trenitalia and Amazon, who together with organizations such as Legambiente and Motus-E demonstrate how the alliance between innovation and social engagement is fundamental to accelerating the transition to a greener economy .