Modena, 29 March 2026 – FEDARENE members took part in the Ferrari Half Marathon, turning a sporting challenge into a call to bring climate neutrality back to the centre of public discussion.
Representing both European and regional energy leadership, the runners’ list included:
- Claudia Carani, Head of the European Projects Area at the Modena Energy and Sustainable Development Agency (AESS)
- Julije Domac, FEDARENE President & CEO of North-West Croatia Energy and Climate Agency (REGEA)
- Christel Liljegren, FEDARENE Vice-President for Sustainable Mobility for Climate Neutral Regions & CEO of the Energy Agency of Southern Sweden
- Piergabriele Andreoli, President of RENAEL & Director of AESS
- Filip Dumitriu, FEDARENE Director
Together, they embodied a commitment that goes well beyond policy papers: bringing climate action into everyday life.
Wearing shirts made from recycled materials and bearing the message “Run for Climate Neutrality”, the team carried a simple but urgent reminder: while public debate seems to have moved on from the Green Deal and nobody talks about climate neutrality anymore, the need for it remains as critical as ever — and has been reaffirmed. Climate neutrality is key to energy security. The war in Iran has plunged Europe and the world into a new energy crisis, once again exposing Europe’s vulnerabilities; advancing toward climate neutrality is the path forward. FEDARENE continues to stand firm — climate neutrality is essential, non‑negotiable, and must not fall out of the conversation.
Local and Regional Energy Agencies are not just advocates. They are delivery partners, a community of expert change‑makers translating climate ambition into tangible solutions. Their run represents a broader race: one towards sustainability in the climate crisis, but also towards resilience, better companies, better homes, stronger democracies.
Why Ferrari? Because industries must run with us
The connection with the Ferrari Half Marathon is no coincidence. Modena is home to one of the world’s most iconic industrial players. Hosting the run here sends a powerful message: to achieve climate neutrality, industries must run with us. Regions must run with us. Municipalities must run with us.
Climate neutrality cannot be delivered by citizens or public actors alone. While individual actions matter, they must be matched by systemic change. Industries with the highest emissions, and the greatest potential for impact, must accelerate their decarbonisation efforts.
Regions, municipalities and industries must move forward together, at the same pace and with the same ambition. Without this collective effort, climate neutrality will remain out of reach.
The industries that will thrive in the future will be those that embed climate neutrality at the core of their strategy. The race goes beyond sustainability. It is also about economic leadership, innovation and long-term resilience.
The message is simple, but urgent: we must run together because there is no competitiveness without Climate Neutrality.
A collective run towards Europe’s future
This run symbolised unity. The path to a climate-neutral future requires collective effort. Just like in a race, progress depends on coordination, endurance and a shared goal.
At FEDARENE, we view a regionally driven energy transition as a key driver of competitiveness. By mobilising local, renewable, affordable and secure energy sources to power economic development, regional and local authorities have a wide array of tools at their disposal, from spatial planning to tailored support programmes for decarbonisation investments and the fostering of regional cleantech clusters.
By participating in the Ferrari Half Marathon, FEDARENE members demonstrated that climate neutrality is not an abstract concept. It is a concrete goal that must be actively pursued, visible in our actions and embraced across all sectors of our society.
In Italy and beyond: Running for Climate Neutrality across Europe
What does “Running for Climate Neutrality” look like in practice across Europe? It means turning ambition into action through the work of Local and Regional Energy Agencies, who are delivering concrete solutions and driving change on the ground.
Our annual publication, Sustainable Regions in Action, brings these efforts to life, showcasing real-life examples and proven strategies that are already making a difference.
Explore this year’s edition and discover the approaches and key drivers shaping a greener and more sustainable future.
