On 29-30 September 2025, UIC welcomed 23 sustainability leaders from 20 member organisations to its headquarters in Paris for two days of strategic dialogue and peer learning. Chaired by, Lia Talarico, Sustainability Platform Chair and representative of FS International, alongside UIC Sustainability Department Director Lucie Anderton, the meeting focused on two key themes: internal culture change and external communication and narratives, both essential to positioning rail as a cornerstone of sustainable mobility.
Opening the dialogue: Culture change for sustainability
The first day featured a peer learning workshop led by Beatrice Lamonica, Partner at Deloitte Climate & Sustainability. She guided the group through the challenges and opportunities of embedding sustainability into the core strategy of railway organisations. Topics included strategic foresight, leadership competencies, and the role of cross-functional collaboration in driving transformation.
Discussions revealed a clear shift: sustainability is no longer merely a compliance activity – it is becoming a strategic business imperative. The workshop therefore emphasised the importance of aligning governance models, empowering teams, and fostering a culture of ownership and innovation. A case study from the National Railways of France (SNCF) showcased a gamified Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) awareness tool designed to engage employees and translate strategic goals into local action.
Shaping the narrative: Communicating rail’s climate role
Day two focused on external communication and narrative building, with a workshop led by Raimondo Orsini, Director of the Sustainable Development Foundation. While rail is already one of the most sustainable modes of transport, the session highlighted the need to speak more confidently and clearly about its achievements in a competitive and fast-evolving landscape, with a strong emphasis on the robustness of information and the importance of communicating in a less technical manner.
Members shared examples of sustainability narratives, sparking a rich and constructive discussion on how best to communicate rail’s value. The group explored ways to amplify rail’s strengths through transparent, science-based messaging, while navigating the challenges of greenwashing and evolving regulatory expectations.
Rather than relying on technical jargon such as “net zero,” participants considered how to highlight tangible benefits – such as CO₂ savings, circular infrastructure, and inclusive mobility. The upcoming EU Green Claims Directive was also discussed, with a focus on its implications for marketing and public messaging.
Key insights
- Honesty and transparency are powerful tools – especially in an era of fact-checking and consumer scrutiny.
- Concrete actions resonate more than distant goals; demonstrating real progress builds trust.
- Internal alignment is essential; marketing and operational teams must speak the same language in terms of sustainability.
Strategic tools and future collaboration
Presentations were also shared on tools such as EcoPassenger, which allows customers to see CO₂ savings on their tickets. Given that rail shares the same customers, this could be a cornerstone for strengthening its narrative. The Integral Value methodology, which measures financial, social, and environmental impact, was also discussed. These tools help railways communicate their value to society and support a modal shift.
There was strong interest in continuing the dialogue, with suggestions for future sessions on strategic topics.
UIC Sustainability Platform reviews progress
Following the in-person meeting, the event transitioned to a hybrid format for the UIC Sustainability Platform plenary meeting. The meeting reviewed progress on key initiatives and charted a course for the remainder of 2025 and beyond.
The agenda included a mid-year review of achievements, feedback on the successful Sustainability Action Week held in March, and planning for the 2026 Sustainability Impact Awards. Sector updates also addressed critical issues such as noise and vibration, sustainable land use, gender equality, air quality, energy & CO2 emissions, and the circular economy.
Participants received updates on UIC’s advocacy strategy, particularly in preparation for COP30, and explored solutions through updates to the Traction Energy Database, the new Sustainability Hub, the Rail Sustainability Index, and various new International Railway Solutions (IRS).
The meeting also covered administrative matters, including updates on opt-in projects for 2026. The UIC Sustainability Platform continues to drive the rail sector towards a more environmentally and socially responsible future.
Conclusion
The CSO meeting reaffirmed the importance of collaboration, transparency, and leadership in advancing rail’s sustainability agenda. UIC thanks all participants for their engagement and contributions and looks forward to continuing this important work together. The group agreed to reconvene in person in Spring 2026.
“The CSO meeting has built on the momentum generated by the Sustainability Action Week in March. It was great to see such active participation and willingness to share knowledge – not only on how we evolve our internal culture, but also on how we better engage with our customers and suppliers,” said Talarico, “The Sustainability Platform has made significant strides this year, and I’m confident that our collaborative efforts will continue to drive meaningful change across the rail sector,"
Find out more about the activities of the Sustainability Platform here or contact the team at Sustainability at uic.org.
