Athens – As heatwaves increasingly grip large swathes of Europe, critical pressure is mounting on infrastructure, cities, and mobility systems. Climate change is no longer a distant threat—it’s a reality demanding long-term strategies and tangible adaptation measures. In this context, Italy is presenting an innovative vision: transforming green areas into active infrastructure.
That’s the message brought to Athens by Ecogest S.p.A., a leading Italian company in environmental management of road networks, at the international symposium “Navigating the Future of Traffic Management.”
Speaking during the session dedicated to climate change, Valerio Molinari, Ecogest’s majority shareholder and founder of the Climate Change Study Center (CCSC), said: “Talking about climate adaptation today without acknowledging the role of green infrastructure is like designing roads without considering asphalt. Our mission is to prove that scalable, operational solutions already exist.” Ecogest showcased several successful Italian initiatives to the international audience—from vegetative barriers in the Brescia area, to green mitigation zones on the A6 highway, and renaturalization efforts in nature parks. It’s an integrated approach that blends environmental design, technical maintenance, and innovation. “We’ve moved past the time for simply listing problems—we need action. Green costs less, works better, and protects people and infrastructure. All that’s missing is the political will to truly put it at the center,” Molinari stressed. The session reaffirmed the critical role that environmental strategies must play in the planning and protection of future infrastructure—on both a national and international scale. “Our goal is for this model to be recognized globally. We’ll continue developing it with the CCSC and sharing it with those around the world who have the courage to embrace real change,” Molinari concluded.