Car crisis, master plan and air quality, the challenges for the City of Turin
Mayor Lo Russo: 'We are concerned about the car industry, we need an industrial policy' - Inclusion projects in the Aurora and Barriera neighbourhoods, 25 million in the field, Valentino relaunch accelerated
3' min read
3' min read
The demanding challenge of a new Master Plan, which will reach the Council in 2025, the acceleration of the Pnrr projects, starting with the strategic one for the revitalisation of Valentino Park, and the social and economic needs generated by a manufacturing industry in difficulty in the city and the entire metropolitan area. In his end-of-year press conference, Turin mayor Stefano Lo Russo lists open building sites and projects to be closed. Without forgetting the sword of Damocles of the car crisis, which hits Turin harder than anywhere else.
A game that is played locally - as Turin and Piedmont have the largest concentration of automotive suppliers in Italy - but is decided at higher levels. During 2025 Stellantis will have a new CEO. Also next year, Europe will have to clarify its strategy on the subject of new CO2 emission reduction targets for car manufacturers. 'These two elements,' emphasises Mayor Lo Russo, 'will influence the Group's strategy, we will be attentive to industrial developments and support the transition by trying to mitigate the social effects.
The concern, the mayor admits, 'is above all for the supply chain, for which a coherent industrial policy is needed'. Lo Russo nevertheless sees signs of a change of pace at national level and considers the decision to focus aid on industry rather than on the market through incentives to be positive. But 2035, he adds, 'is a deadline that must be maintained also to protect producers' investments, and the discussion on technological neutrality must not be a means of reneging on decarbonisation objectives'.
The year 2025 will see the strengthening of instruments to guarantee better air quality with the blocking, during the alert phases, not only of Euro5 diesel cars but also of commercial vehicles of the same motorisation category, as envisaged by the Air Quality Plan launched by the Piedmont Region a few weeks ago. 'We are asking to open a phase of interlocution, albeit belatedly, with the Region, which has not involved us in the discussion of the Plan,' emphasises Transport Councillor Chiara Foglietta.
The issue of air quality is a challenge that the city cannot structurally shirk, 'we must do more because we start from a structurally disadvantaged situation,' reiterates the mayor.Turin, recalls Lo Russo, 'is among the 100 cities committed to climate neutrality, which is why heavy investments are needed. Ours is still a pragmatic approach, starting with the structural reduction of emissions and the upgrading of public buildings'. In this direction, the mayor reminds us, are the main urban interventions, starting with the pedestrianisation of Via Roma, the traffic efficiency around Piazza Baldissera and the Metro 2 project.
