Padova is among the most ancient cities in the northern Italy. It counts 209.420 inhabitants on an area of 92,85 kmq. Its strategic location, alongside river Brenta, has always been a melting pot of people and cultures, enriching and placing the city as one of the most active economic and cultural exchange centres in the North-Eastern area of Italy and Veneto Region. The inclusion of Padova Giotto’s frescos in the UNESCO World Heritage, together with Padova election as European Volunteering Capital, but also Capital of Green Innovation, is placing the city under constant international visibility.
Padova is already set to become a metropolitan hub by 2030, where the crucial assets to prioritize are innovation, interconnection, sustainability and social inclusion. Padova Municipality is currently operating in several macro sectors for a more sustainable growth of the city that pays attention to resources, social well-being and economy, namely i) mobility and micro mobility, ii) healthcare, iii) well-being, iv) urban culture and renovation, v) parks and recreation, vi) security and cybersecurity. The reported pillars are interconnected and each of them takes advantage of a particular sector of the Padova’s community and its innovation network, in a concerted effort of local stakeholders from private and public sector and the associations. These macro areas are all in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 Agenda, where every action proposed by the Municipality combines local needs and global sustainable requirements.
Padova is one of 100 European pilot cities selected by the European Commission in the NetZeroCities project, with the ambitious mission of achieving climate neutrality by 2030.
Therefore, the Municipality's primary goal is to drastically reduce its CO2 emissions by implementing and enhancing the actions included in its SECAP.
In particular, the Municipality intends to profoundly renew the public and private building real estate property, enhance the use of energy from renewable sources, strengthen electric public transport service and soft mobility, reduce waste production also through circular economy strategies, implement a food policy and implement climate change adaptation policies, especially related to urban green.
All the above-mentioned actions are designed in view of a climate neutrality, and also to build an increasingly inclusive and open community, highlighting the fact that the events of the last few years worsened economic hardship and inequalities in the society and that acting to protect the vulnerable and ensuring a good quality of life for all is the primary task of a municipality.
In terms of food policy, the Municipality has already initiated preliminary studies to draft a food plan, in particular trying to quantify food waste and outlining actions for its containment.
Reducing food waste is an important action in terms of environmental and social impact, especially when accompanied by policies of recovery and distribution to vulnerable groups.
The Municipality of Padova intends to carry out further investigations, particularly with the following actions:
- mapping food insecurity
- mapping the eating habits of Padova citizens
- quantification of the environmental impact of the average diet and impact comparison with a more environmentally sustainable diet
- social network analysis among stakeholders in the area
- analysis of food flows inside and outside the city
- final definition of a food policy
A city food policy is important in terms of environmental impact (emissions’ reduction, waste reduction, green and urban agriculture empowerment) and social impact, as it strengthens local stakeholders and initiatives marked by a fair trade model and supports vulnerable groups through anti-waste food distribution actions. It also triggers positive participatory dynamics in the community life by increasing citizens' knowledge and awareness.
Therefore, the Municipality of Padova is interested in joining any consortium that can help develop the projects described above.
For further info, please refer to:
Giulia Canilli
Giovanni Vicentini
vicenting@comune.padova.it