Smog is choking Milan, there is a cruel lack of water in Sicily and wine production is declining in Piedmont: the lack of rain across Italy is exacerbating pollution and leading to droughts against the backdrop of global warming.
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The most polluting cars were banned from driving in Milan and eight other cities in Lombardy on Tuesday due to high levels of air pollution in this rich northern industrial region.
In Lombardy, where there are many intensive livestock farms, the spreading of manure on fields is also prohibited, a practice that causes high levels of nitrate pollution.
Northern Italy has long been one of the most polluted regions in Europe. Lombardy's problem is partly geographical, as the region lies in a basin between mountains and is therefore poorly ventilated.
However, environmental NGOs believe that this handicap all too often serves as an excuse for authorities to justify high levels of air pollution without taking action to remedy the situation.
Across Italy, regions particularly in the mountains, particularly the Alps, are suffering from drought or a severe deficit in rainfall.
According to the CIMA Research Foundation, Italy's snow water equivalent – the equivalent amount of water stored in the snowpack – fell by 64% this month compared to last year.
The lack of rainfall exacerbates the already difficult situation after the heat waves of 2023, which led to a decline in reserves and increased water consumption.
Due to the drought, Sicily declared a state of natural disaster in early February and in Sardinia, farmers can only use limited amounts of water.
Water reserves have fallen by 23% compared to the average over the last 14 years.
The southern regions of Apulia and Basilicata also suffer from this. The Coldiretti farmers' association warned at the weekend that high temperatures had awakened thousands of bees earlier than expected.
This situation threatens the pollination of certain crops because bees are not synchronized with the flowering time of the plants from which they collect pollen.
Piedmont, in the northwest of the country, asked the Agriculture Ministry on Monday to declare a state of natural disaster because of the drought in the region, which is affecting vineyards and causing “significant” declines in wine production.