Vittorio Molinari

Deputy Mayor for Environment, Circular Economy and Ecological Transition in the City of Modena

Born in 1953, his first approach to ecology was at 19, when attended a public conference held soon after the Stockholm Declaration.

Since then, his commitment to the environment has developed into the movement against nuclear power plants, and toward sustainable tourism. He pioneered nature-based tourism campaigns and activism in Modena in the 80s, also promoting and organizing environmental education activities in local schools.

Mr Molinari participated in the establishment of the Italian association of Environmental Hiking Guides, later founding a travel agency specifically dedicated to nature tourism for students. In 2001, the World Travel Market in London awarded him the Green Globe 21 as the best organizer of sustainable tourism. He has also been actively involved in Slow Food Italy, and vice president of the Italian Consortium of Fair-Trade Stores.

Most recently, he promoted the establishment of the Doughnut Circle in Modena, with the aim of bringing together economists, philosophers, architects, researchers, and citizens, to promote local actions – looking out to Europe and the world – towards an economy cantered on environment and human beings – espousing economist Kate Raworh’s doughnut economy model.

Representing the City of Modena within the network, Mr Molinari aims at continuing to bring the European perspective and best practices to the local, encouraging citizens, businesses, and the entire community to join in a common effort towards a fair ecological transition.

Taking action to counter climate change is not just about economics, nor education.  It is a crucial node that holds together so many issues that, taken alone, look like emergencies: labor market, waste management, mobility, land consumption, energy efficiency and renewables, food and health, international cooperation, and community development. The challenge is to keep it all tied together, so that every person – and not just the ones who have more opportunities and innovation capacity – are included in the change process.