On the occasion of World Environment Day, Coldiretti returns to raise the alarm on the risks faced by the Italian territory. Over a quarter of our country (28%) is at risk of degradation and desertification with the decline in water availability alternating with the devastating effects of climate change, as demonstrated by the 908 extreme events that hit Italy in the first five months of 2024.

The data emerge from a Coldiretti analysis of Ispra and Eswd findings.

Last year the country's water availability decreased by 18% according to Ispra and the effect was felt especially in the southern regions, where 2024 has so far been characterized by a very serious drought with the most serious emergency affecting Sicily . On the island, Coldiretti farmers took to the streets with a large mobilization in Palermo to ask for immediate help to save the stables, with the animals left without food or water, and the fields, where many productions have been practically eliminated, obtaining important responses from Sicilian region.

But drought problems have also been recorded in Sardinia, Puglia and Basilicata with devastating effects in particular on wheat production.

Not only that: the first quarter of 2024 was the hottest ever, with a temperature 1.84 degrees higher than the historical average, according to Coldiretti analysis on Isac Cnr data.

(Unioneonline/ss)

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