D8.1 ClimaGen Torino City Report 1

The City of Torino (Comune di Torino) participates in ClimaGen project as a Demonstrator City, with the objective of designing, testing and implementing regreening measures and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in the Mirafiori Sud district, a post-industrial and socially complex urban area.

The project contributes to the city’s broader climate ambitions, in particular the objectives of its Climate City Contract (CCC) formally signed under the EU Mission “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030”, supporting the transition towards climate neutrality through integrated and place-based actions.

The Living Lab in Torino (ClimaLab) focuses on the regeneration of both green and blue infrastructure along the Sangone river corridor and surrounding areas, combining environmental restoration with social activation and cultural initiatives. In this approach, co-creation activities, stakeholder engagement and continuous learning processes are central to the development and successful implementation of the different interventions.

At the current stage (M18, June 2026), the project in the City is positioned between a co-creation and early implementation phase, with some participatory processes already activated and initial renaturing interventions started and currently underway. These include the removal of informal structures along the riverbanks, the start of ecological restoration works, and the integration of NbS within ongoing municipal projects. Therefore, the intervention portfolio combines larger-scale infrastructural actions with smaller-scale and cultural measures, such as the development of artistic NbS and the organisation of Landscape Festivals, with the first edition planned for September 2026 (River Landscape Festival).

A key strength of the adopted approach in Torino lies in its integrated governance model, where active engagement and collaboration is rooted within a multi-level partnership among local project actors. The City (Comune di Torino), Fondazione LINKS and Fondazione della Comunità di Mirafiori jointly coordinate the Living Lab and related initiatives, supported by Orti Generali and a more extended ecosystem of local stakeholders, including residents, youth associations, cultural actors and research institutions. This structure effectively enables the alignment of technical implementation, community needs and institutional priorities.

The project is also integrated into a broader innovation ecosystem, where start-ups, research institutions and local initiatives foster the adoption of circular solutions, greening practices and cultural initiatives. At the same time, ClimaGen aims to generate new opportunities in the target area and eventually across the city, including the development of data-driven tools and emerging models to support the long-term management of public green spaces.

Overall, Climagen in Torino is demonstrating the potential of Living Lab approaches to move from planning and designing to the implementation of renaturing activities and Nbs, while fostering collaboration and learning across project partners and local actors.