Green politicians in Italy have launched scathing criticism of the government’s handling of the ongoing drought crisis, demanding immediate action to address the climate emergency. The severity of the drought has left parts of Italy facing water shortages, leading some politicians to call for a more robust response.
Angelo Bonelli, spokesperson for the Europa Verde (Green Europe) political party, rallied outside government headquarters in Rome on Thursday, highlighting the dire situation in Sicily. “The climate crisis is not ideological, it is a dramatic reality in Sicily,” he stated. “Farmers are uprooting vineyards, citrus groves, they are slaughtering animals because there is no water. This is a disastrous situation.” Bonelli condemned the silence of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the issue, accusing the government of “leaving an entire region on its knees”.
The severity of the drought has forced the Italian navy to intervene, sending a tanker to Sicily’s parched southwest coast on Friday, delivering 1,200 cubic meters of water. The island, the largest in the Mediterranean, is grappling with its worst drought in 20 years, prompting local officials to declare a state of emergency back in February.
The crisis extends beyond Sicily. On Friday, the southwest region of Calabria declared a drought emergency, facing serious drinking water shortages. A report by the ANBI Observatory on Water Resources reveals that less than three weeks of water supply remain for agriculture in the center-south of the country. The report indicates that water rationing is expanding, affecting even drinking water in some areas. Abruzzo, Basilicata, Campania, Lazio, Puglia, and Sardinia are among the regions struggling with drought.
This stark contrast to the situation in northern Italy, which has faced heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides in recent weeks, highlights the uneven impact of climate change across the country. Massimo Gargano, general director of ANBI, underscores this imbalance: “The current picture of Italy’s water supply is that of a north overabundant with water and a center-south parched by drought, where important economic assets such as agriculture and tourism are at risk.” He emphasizes the need for a shift in approach, stating, “We must be aware, at every level, that the climate has changed and that a new model for the territory is needed, where resilience can only be accompanied by maintenance, infrastructure, and innovation.”
Joining Bonelli outside Palazzo Chigi on Thursday, MPs from the Greens and Left Alliance (AVS) held signs reading “The climate crisis is a reality, the government has no strategy”. Nicola Fratoianni, an Italian Left politician, underscored the social implications of the crisis: “It’s not just a gigantic environmental problem, it’s also a gigantic social problem. The climate crisis affects inflation, it affects the purchasing power of the already too low wages of Italian women.”
The speakers criticized the government’s priorities, particularly the allocation of €3 billion from Italy’s National Climate Fund to the “Mattei Plan,” which aims to boost ties with Africa and develop energy infrastructure. This plan has drawn criticism for prioritizing energy infrastructure over water infrastructure, despite the urgent need for drought mitigation and water management.
The government’s commitment to the “Mattei Plan,” which includes plans to strengthen energy efficiency and promote the use of renewable energy, has been met with disapproval from Green politicians. They highlight the contradiction of investing in the “Messina Bridge,” which will link Sicily to mainland Italy, while the island suffers from severe drought. Earlier this month, Sicily received €92 million of the projected €1.6 billion for a regional water plan aimed at strengthening water infrastructure and preventing drought. The plan includes replacements and floodgate maintenance at dams used for irrigation.
While the severe lack of rain and high temperatures have triggered the latest water crisis, the situation is exacerbated by the island’s crumbling infrastructure, which is old and poorly maintained. For example, the reservoir at the Trinità dam in Castelvetrano has never been safety tested and has been awaiting structural interventions for years to increase the water flow. This has resulted in precious water supplies being released into the sea from the dam when waters rise. Thousands of hectares of land depend on this dam for irrigation.
In the meantime, local municipalities have been left to address the crisis with measures such as restrictions on the use of drinking water for irrigation and swimming pools, along with reducing flow rates during the nighttime. The situation highlights the need for a comprehensive and strategic approach to address the climate crisis and its impact on Italy, focusing on water management, infrastructure improvements, and sustainable practices.
