Title: Extreme Weather Events Put Italy at Risk: Luca Mercalli Urges Urgent Climate Action
Subtitle: Recent storms, wildfires, and glacier collapse highlight Italy’s vulnerability
Date: August 6, 2023
Italy, a country known for its picturesque landscapes and diverse topography, is facing a growing climate crisis, warns Luca Mercalli, an Italian climatologist. Recent extreme weather events, including storms, wildfires, and the collapse of a glacier, have highlighted Italy’s vulnerability to climate change.
In late July, powerful storms wreaked havoc in northern Italy, causing devastation and claiming the lives of five people. Mercalli, the president of the Italian Meteorological Society, visited Mortegliano, a small town in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, days after the storms and described it as a scene of destruction.
According to Mercalli, Italy is facing three major factors that make it one of the most fragile places in the world in terms of climate risk. Firstly, the Mediterranean Sea, which surrounds Italy, is warming up rapidly compared to other oceans. Secondly, Italy is located between the tropical climate of Africa and the temperate climate of northern Europe, leading to significant temperature variations. Lastly, the densely populated Mediterranean coastal areas make any extreme weather event a potential humanitarian and economic disaster.
These vulnerabilities have been evident in recent events. The hailstones that struck Milan in July broke European records, with stones measuring up to 19cm in diameter. In Mortegliano, hailstones the size of 10-15cm fell within a storm that lasted less than 10 minutes, causing widespread damage estimated at €80m.
Mercalli, who has been studying glaciers for decades, has witnessed the retreat of glaciers and changes in vegetation across the Alps. Each year brings less snow, which melts away more quickly, impacting water resources and ecosystems. The Italian Alps, once a refuge from extreme heat, are now experiencing rising temperatures, even at higher altitudes.
Despite these alarming developments, Italy’s response to the climate crisis has been tepid. The current right-wing administration, led by Giorgia Meloni, has made vague statements about the ecological transition and the need to balance environmental concerns with the economy. Climate crisis deniers in the media have also hampered efforts to raise awareness and take action.
As more violent storms are forecasted to engulf northern Italy, President Sergio Mattarella and leaders from Spain, Greece, Croatia, and Slovenia have called for urgent action from international leaders. Time is running out, and Italy cannot afford to compromise for political or economic reasons.
Luca Mercalli’s warnings serve as a wake-up call for Italy. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and exceeding society’s tolerance threshold. Urgent action is needed to mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect Italy’s vulnerable communities and ecosystems.