In Italy there is now an ever-increasing drought emergency and Sardinia is fourth in terms of damage suffered among the Italian regions affected by the water crisis in recent years.

This is confirmed by the latest report from Legambiente's City Climate Observatory , released today in view of World Environment Day.

According to the association's data, from 2020 to mid-May 2024, 81 damages due to prolonged drought were recorded in the Peninsula .

Lombardy (15), Piedmont (14) and Sicily (9) are the most affected regions in recent years, followed by Sardinia (6) , Emilia-Romagna (6) and Trentino-Alto-Adige (6).

A worrying picture, which makes Legambiente ask for "rapid, concrete and integrated interventions that can no longer be postponed".

The numbers are also followed by an appeal to the Meloni Government to undertake three actions to deal with the crisis , namely: a redefinition of a single management by the District Basin Authorities; an integrated national river basin strategy; encourage good practices that allow water to be retained in the area as much as possible and promote systems for the recovery of rainwater and the reuse of waste water.

Legambiente also recalls the prudential estimates of the European Commission, which highlight how, without effective preventive action against climate risks, damage from floods, heat waves, droughts, forest fires, crop losses or diseases could reduce European GDP by approximately 7% by the end of the century.

«The drought that has hit Sicily in particular in recent months, the rationed water, the protests of citizens and farmers - declares Stefano Ciafani , national president of Legambiente - show us in a nutshell how much the climate crisis is accelerating the pace even in Italy. From Sicily to Sardinia passing through the other regions of the Peninsula, it is clear that the effects of climate change, starting from increasingly chronic drought events, are now very tangible with serious environmental and economic repercussions . In particular - continues the president of the association - the prolonged drought in recent years has repeatedly brought agricultural production to its knees and caused a worrying drop in the level of the lakes. This is why it is essential to intervene in prevention rather than acting after extreme climatic events have hit the Peninsula. Our country must aim for a circular, sustainable and integrated approach to water management and a widespread dissemination of good practices already active in the area. At a European level – concludes Ciafani – we ask for more ambitious climate and energy policies that are based on the green deal and on a new pact for the future that truly puts the environment at the centre».

(Unioneonline/lf)

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