While in Italy, not unlike other countries, we discuss whether it is appropriate to give up a piece of our freedom to fight Covid 19, we do not notice the changes that the only common home we have, the earth, is undergoing due to the heating to which it is subjected. At most we see them as distant facts that at most interest few populations. But how not to worry! In Pantelleria, never-before-seen tornadoes have thrown into the air, as if they were twigs, the cars encountered on their way.

The Marmolada glacier will be dissolved in about 10 years. The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change) has released its report on the global temperature rise and the consequences, better said on the disasters it causes. This year, a fire in Yakutia, a republic of Russia in eastern Siberia, developed a 2,000-kilometer fire front with smoke reaching the north pole. And on the other hand, this summer the temperatures reached peaks so far unknown even to us, such as 48.5 degrees in Syracuse. But despite the first Global Strike on March 15, 2019 promoted by Greta Thunberg, which saw the impressive participation of millions of children from all over the world, the environmental issue is struggling to gain the attention of the world. In fact, even the International Climate Conference this summer in Naples due to the opposition of states among which China has not ratified the decarbonization objectives necessary to contain atmospheric temperatures.

The central issue, we must understand, is a conflict between generations on the subject: what will be the fate of our only home and what will be the fate of its survival. In concrete terms, how politics and politicians can continue to be subordinate to the large fossil energy producers. The problem is global and the sovereign thinking that fails to see it, because it defends local interests, does not want to understand that in this way we destroy the home and the future of our children and grandchildren. But let's see how young people, with their enthusiasm and with the certainty that it is necessary to refer to scientific data, want to become protagonists of change. “Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition” takes place in Milan until September 30th. The meeting is dedicated to young people between 16 and 29 years of age, of whom a selected group will have to prepare the final document. But the key event will be in Glasgow: the United Nations conference on climate change will be held from November 1st to 12th, which will see the presence of 30,000 delegates and many representatives of young activists.

How are our small island and us experiencing the effects of climate change, how do we want to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases? We are a community that for mobility in general and for heating homes we use massively and extensively fossil fuels which cause high levels of environmental pollution. In addition to reducing their use, a large investment in forest care is required. At Gennargentu, our green lung, we don't need a snow plan, but a great reforestation.

Antonio Barracca

(Cagliari)

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