Italy’s Green-Left Alliance (AVS) called on Premier Giorgia Meloni’s government on Saturday to declare a climate state of emergency as southern and central regions grapple with a severe drought.
In February, Sicily declared a drought emergency following prolonged dry conditions, and on Friday, Calabria Governor Roberto Occhiuto did the same due to a “serious drinking water shortage” in Crotone province and the metropolitan area of Reggio Calabria.
To alleviate the drought crisis, an Italian Navy tanker delivered 1,200 cubic meters of water to the Sicilian port of Licata on Friday, aiding the province of Agrigento and the Gela area.
A report by water authority ANBI on Thursday warned that central and southern Italy might face a complete agricultural water shortage within three weeks due to dwindling reserves. The situation is particularly dire in Puglia, Abruzzo, and Sicily, with significant shortages also reported in Sardinia, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, and Lazio.
Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events like heatwaves, droughts, storms, and flooding to the climate crisis driven by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.
While southern Italy endures drought, the northern regions have faced the opposite extreme, with recent storms and torrential rains leading to floods and landslides.
“declare a climate state of emergency”
AVS MP Angelo Bonelli urged Meloni to “call a cabinet meeting and declare a state of climate crisis,” highlighting the unacceptable silence in response to the dual disasters of northern floods and southern drought, which threaten to devastate crops and agriculture.
Deputy Premier and Transport and Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini acknowledged Sicily’s drought as a “national emergency” during a question-time session in the Lower House on Wednesday. He stated the government is taking all necessary actions to address long-standing critical issues.
Salvini further noted his ministry had completed the preliminary phase of a national infrastructure plan for the water sector, allocating approximately €950 million. Sicily would receive around 10% for seven projects totalling €92 million out of 75 water works funded across Italy. An extraordinary national commissioner will propose urgent intervention plans to tackle the emergency.
Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci criticized regional governments this week for utilising only 30% of the anti-drought funds provided by the central government.
